Crash of a De Havilland DH.104 Dove 1B at Ohakea AFB

Date & Time: Feb 3, 2006 at 1020 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-UDO
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
04412
YOM:
1953
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing a private tour when enroute, the crew decided to divert to Ohakea AFB due to the deterioration of the weather conditions. On final approach, when full flaps was selected, the aircraft rolled left and right. The pilots could not control the aircraft that struck the runway surface and came to rest. While all occupants were uninjured, the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the port flap jack linkage eye-bolt which caused an asymmetrical flap condition, causing the aircraft to be out of control.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.104 Devon on Mt Shingle Slip Knob: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 17, 1955 at 1011 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NZ1815
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Ohakea - Ohakea
MSN:
04398
YOM:
1953
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training flight and left Ohakea Airbase at 0917LT. Apparently while returning and flying over the Taratua Forest Park in poor weather conditions, the twin engine airplane hit the slope of Mt Shingle Slip Knob at 1011LT. The wreckage was found three days later few meters below the summit and both crew members have been killed. It is believed the aircraft was off track at the time of the accident and the crew was unaware of the presence of the mountain due the lack of visibility.
Crew:
F/Lt Edward Casey,
F/Lt William Trott.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.65 Consul on Mt Ruapehu: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1951 at 1144 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NZ1902
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Wigram – Rukuhia – Ohakea
MSN:
3927
YOM:
1946
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a flight from Wigram AFB to Ohakea with an intermediate stop in Rukuhia, carrying a load of spare parts. While cruising at an altitude of 8,900 feet in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft hit the east slope of the Te Heuheu peak located in the Ruapehu Mountain range. The wreckage was found about 50 feet below the summit and all three crew members have been killed.
Probable cause:
At the time of the accident, the visibility was reduced by the presence of clouds and it was determined that the accident was the result of a controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I in Mt Ruahine: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NZ1227
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Napier - Ohakea
MSN:
2609
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While cruising in the region of Hawletts Hut, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in a dense wooded area located in the Ruahine Mountain Range. All three crew members were killed. It is believed that the aircraft suffered a structural failure in flight.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura in the Tararua Mountain Range: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 28, 1946 at 0710 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NZ4573
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Ohakea - Ohakea
MSN:
6203
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a meteorological survey mission and left Ohakea AFB at 0700LT. Ten minutes later, while cruising in the Waitohu Valley in poor weather conditions, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located in the Tararua Mountain Range. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the 4 crew members was found. On March 19, 1949, walkers found the wreckage of the aircraft in a wooded area located near Otaki.
Crew:
F/Lt Walter Jacobs,
F/Lt Sydney Langton,
W/O Hedley Newell,
AC1 Anthony Hayhurst.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA in Ohakea AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 19, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NZ2045
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ohakea - Ohakea
MSN:
414-6443
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Just after liftoff, the aircraft stalled, hit the ground, went out of control and eventually crashed on a construction vehicle. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and both pilots were slightly injured while the vehicle's driver was killed.
Probable cause:
It appears that the crew did not prepare the flight properly and did not proceed to any deice prior to takeoff while the aircraft (wings, tail and stabilizers) were contaminated by ice. This cause the aircraft to stall just after liftoff.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura in Mt Egmont: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 3, 1944 at 1100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NZ4544
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Ohakea - Ohakea
MSN:
5744
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
En route, while flying in marginal weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft hit the base of Mt Egmont (Mt Taranaki) located south of New Plymouth. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (1st OTU):
F/O Jack Martin,
F/Sgt Arnold Hill,
Sgt Harold Day,
Sgt James McKay,
Sgt Frank Webb.
Probable cause:
According to the investigations, the aircraft was off course at the time of the accident, most probably due to a navigation error caused by an insufficient visibility.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson III off Tangimoana: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 28, 1943 at 1130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NZ2034
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Ohakea - Ohakea
MSN:
414-3857
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training flight from Ohakea AFB. While cruising off Tangimoana at low altitude, the crew had taken evasive action to avoid a collision with another aircraft taking part to the same exercise. During a steep turn, the aircraft entered a spin and dove into the sea three miles south of the Rangitikei River mouth. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (1st OTU):
F/Sgt William Marshall,
P/O Harold Beard,
Sgt William Plant,
F/Sgt John Aubrey,
Sgt Brian McSweeney.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson VI in Ohakea AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 15, 1943 at 1720 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NZ2093
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Ohakea - Ohakea
MSN:
414-6836
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a night training flight. Shortly after take off, at low height, the aircraft stalled and hit the ground. It overrun, hit a perimeter fence and came to rest in flames. All three crew were killed.
Crew (1st OTU):
S/L Wilfred Williams,
LAC Harold Beale,
Cpl Wilfred Gibbons.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford II on Mt Mitre: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 14, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NZ1237
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Ohakea - Ohakea
MSN:
2657
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Ohakea Airfield on a cross-country exercise. While cruising in clouds, it impacted the slope of Mt Mitre (Pukeamoamo) located about 79 km northeast of Wellington. The wreckage was found in May 1942. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
LAC James Edgar Norman Corin,
LAC Ronald Alfred Walter Abrahams.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.