Private New Zealand | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Crash of a Fletcher FU-24-950 in New Zealand: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 23, 1996 at 1522 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

ZK-EGQ

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Spraying (Agricultural)

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

239

YOM:

1977

Location:

Tasman District Council

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

1

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

0

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

1

Captain / Total flying hours:

14237

Captain / Total hours on type:

14000.00

Circumstances:

The pilot, sole on board, was completing a top dressing flight in the region of Motueka. While flying at low height, the aircraft struck with its left wing a pine, lost height and crashed on the northern face of a ridge. The pilot was killed.

Probable cause:

The lone pine tree which the aircraft struck was probably obscured due to the position of the sun and shadow, making it difficult for the pilot to detect. Damage to the aileron control system resulted from the collision, and prevented the pilot from turning away from the ridge he had been sowing. Due to the impaired controllability the pilot was unable to recover from a steep left-banked turn, and the aircraft stalled and collided heavily with the face of the ridge in a nose-down attitude.

Final Report:

Crash of a Fletcher FU-24-950M in Waimangu: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1990 at 0835 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

ZK-BIX

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Spraying (Agricultural)

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Waimangu - Waimangu

MSN:

50

YOM:

1957

Location:

Bay of Plenty Regional Council

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

1

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

0

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

1

Captain / Total flying hours:

12173

Captain / Total hours on type:

1171.00

Circumstances:

The pilot, sole on board, was engaged in a local topdressing flight in Waimangu. Shortly after takeoff, the engine lost power. The aircraft lost height then the right wing struck a hedge and it crashed. The pilot was killed.

Probable cause:

An injector was completely blocked by a grain of sand which caused a significant power loss just after takeoff.

Final Report:

Crash of a Fletcher FU-24-950M in Wairakei: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 12, 1987

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

ZK-CWQ

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Spraying (Agricultural)

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

64

YOM:

1960

Location:

Waikato Regional Council

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

1

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

0

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

1

Circumstances:

The single engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in Wairakei. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Crash of a Fletcher FU-24-950M in Gisborne

Date & Time: May 10, 1985

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

ZK-BVU

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Spraying (Agricultural)

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

10

YOM:

1954

Location:

Gisborne District Council

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

1

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

0

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

0

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances. The pilot, sole on board, was injured.

Crash of a Fletcher FU24-954 in Waimate: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 21, 1984 at 0705 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

ZK-EMI

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Spraying (Agricultural)

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

260

YOM:

1979

Location:

Canterbury Regional Council

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

1

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

1

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

1

Circumstances:

The single engine airplane departed Waimate Airport, bound to a local farm for a crop spraying mission, carrying one passenger and one pilot. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing to an altitude of about 300-400 feet, the aircraft entered a stratus area when the engine apparently lost power. The aircraft entered a nose-down attitude then crashed in the Waihao River. The passenger was killed and the pilot was seriously injured. The aircraft was totally destroyed.

Probable cause:

The pilot suffered a spatial disorientation while flying in low visibility due to clouds (stratus) after he encountered unknown technical problems with the engine.

Crash of a Piper PA-60 Aerostar (Ted Smith 600) off Honolulu: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 19, 1981

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-60 Aerostar (Ted Smith 600)

Operator:

Registration:

ZK-EHR

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

60-0312-116

YOM:

1977

Location:

Country:

United States of America

Region:

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 delivery flight, the airplane being transferred to its new owner. In unclear circumstances, the aircraft crashed into the sea off Honolulu. Despite intensive search, the aircraft and the pilot were not recovered.

Probable cause:

Due to lack of evidences, the cause of the accident could not be determined.

Crash of a Fletcher FU-24-950 in Waipukurau

Date & Time: Feb 8, 1980

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

ZK-EMF

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Spraying (Agricultural)

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

257

YOM:

1978

Location:

Hawke's Bay Regional Council

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

1

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

0

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

0

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances while engaged in a local spraying mission. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was injured.

Crash of a Fletcher FU-24-950 near Pipiwai

Date & Time: Mar 18, 1977

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

ZK-BHY

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Spraying (Agricultural)

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

26

YOM:

1956

Location:

Northland Regional Council

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

1

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

0

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

0

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances in the Kaikou River Valley, in the region of Pipiwai. The pilot, sole on board, was injured.

Crash of a Fletcher FU-24-950 in Lahore

Date & Time: Aug 18, 1976

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

ZK-EFS

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

222

YOM:

1976

Location:

Punjab (پنجاب)

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

0

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

0

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

0

Circumstances:

Crashed in Lahore while on a delivery flight. Occupant's fate unknown.

Crash of a Fletcher FU-24 in Orakei

Date & Time: Oct 29, 1973

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

ZK-CDW

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Spraying (Agricultural)

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Auckland - Auckland

MSN:

90

YOM:

1962

Location:

Auckland Council

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

1

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

0

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

0

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances in Orakei, in the suburb of Auckland, while engaged in a spraying mission.

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