Crash of a Fletcher FU24-950M in Whitemans Valley: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1982 at 1906 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fletcher FU-24
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-BPZ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Spraying (Agricultural)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
70
YOM:
1960
Location:
Upper Hutt
Greater Wellington Regional Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, was completing a sowing lime mission on a hillside located in the Whitemans Valley, south of Upper Hutt. While turning in the valley to position for another sowing run, the single engine aircraft's left wing and undercarriage struck a small ridge. The plane then collided with a fence, cartwheeled, and dived into the ground. The pilot was killed.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I near Upper Hutt: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 20, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.10 Oxford
Operator:
Registration:
NZ1245
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Ohakea - Ohakea
MSN:
2670
YOM:
1940
Location:
Upper Hutt
Greater Wellington Regional Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training mission on behalf of the 3rd Army Training Unit and departed Ohakea AFB at 1045LT. While cruising in low visibility due to poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft impacted the slope of a mountain located between Upper Hutt and Waikanae, northeast of Wellington. As the crew failed to announce their position at the reporting point at 1315LT, SAR operations were initiated, but eventually suspended after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. The wreckage was found by a hunter on April 10, 1943.
Crew (3rd SFTS):
LAC Charles William Baker,
LAC Winston Stanley Cannel.
Source: http://www.parawaitc.org.nz/Other/Oxford1245.pdf
Probable cause:
The Court concluded its inquiry with the following findings:
1) From the evidence available, the Court can only assume that the loss of Oxford NZ1245 is attributable mainly to the bad weather conditions prevailing in part of the route to be flown.
2) The Court is of the opinion that the aircraft and equipment was in serviceable condition prior to the exercise.
3) The weather conditions immediately prior to setting out on the exercise were such that the Flight Commander was justified in authorizing the flight.
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