New Zealand National Airways

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Whenuapai – Tauranga

MSN:

15204/26649

YOM:

1944

Flight number:

NZ441

Location:

Mt Ngatamahinerua

Waikato Regional Council

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6639

Captain / Total hours on type:

5687.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

10014

Copilot / Total hours on type:

6694

Aircraft flight hours:

18629

Circumstances:

While descending to Tauranga Airport in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft struck the slope of Mt Ngatamahinerua located 30 km west of Tauranga Airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all 23 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

A strong downward current in the lee of the Kaimai Range close to the Gordon quarry. This downward current carried the aircraft below the level of the crests of the range, where under the conditions prevailing at the time, the aircraft encountered an area of extreme turbulence in which it was impossible for the pilot to regain effective control and recover height. Contributory causes:
a) The captain of the aircraft was unaware of his true position and initiated a premature descent. However, it must be appreciated that he decided to descend only to the level officially designated as the minimum safe altitude in the area of his descent.
b) The decision of the Civil Aviation authorities to classify the Kaimai Range as non-mountainous terrain for the purpose of determining the safe altitude for the route.
c) The misleading forecast of the upper wind between Whenuapai and Tauranga.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-3D in Paraparaumu: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 22, 1954 at 0923 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-3

Operator:

Registration:

ZK-AQT

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Christchurch - Paraparaumu

MSN:

15948/32696

YOM:

1945

Flight number:

NZA152

Location:

Paraparaumu-Kapiti Coast

Greater Wellington Regional Council

Country:

Region:

De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

12732

Circumstances:

On final approach to Paraparaumu Airport, both engines failed simultaneously. Then captain was able to restart the engine but the aircraft lost speed and height. While trying to climb, the aircraft banked right and hit a house, shearing off 12 feet of the right wing. The airplane passed between two houses and eventually crashed in a wooded area. The aircraft was destroyed, three children were killed and all other occupants were injured, some of them seriously.

Probable cause:

- Either throughout the flight or a substantial portion of it both engines were drawing fuel from the starboard main tank,
- The selector valves or valve were moved after the engines cut out, and the valves, when found and checked later, indicated a final setting of each engine to its respective port and starboard main tank,
- The total fuel usage recorded for sixty hours of service by the engines of this aircraft prior to this flight establish that the fuel was used normally by each engine from each tank and there was no malfunctioning of the selector equipment,
- The failure of the engines of this aircraft was due to exhaustion of fuel in the starboard main tank, to which both engines had been selected,
- Having regard to the position and condition of the aircraft at the time of engine failure the subsequent accident to the aircraft was inevitable.

Final Report:

Ground fire of a De Havilland DH.89B Dominie inn Rotorua

Date & Time: Jan 14, 1950

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

ZK-ALC

Flight Phase:

Parking

Flight Type:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Rotorua – Hamilton

MSN:

6664

YOM:

1943

Location:

Rotorua

Bay of Plenty Regional Council

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was parked at Rotorua Airport and ready for its schedule flight to Hamilton Airport (Rukuhia). During engine start up, a fire erupted from the left engine and the fire spread to the dry grass. The aircraft caught fire and all five occupants were able to vacate the cabin before the aircraft would be completely destroyed by fire.

Probable cause:

Engine fire during start up.

Crash of a Lockheed C-60A-5-LO LodeStar in Waikanae: 15 killed

Date & Time: Mar 18, 1949 at 0940 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed C-60 LodeStar

Operator:

Registration:

ZK-AKX

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Greater Wellington Regional Council

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Whenuapai – Paraparaumu

MSN:

2382

YOM:

1943

Location:

Waikanae

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The descent to Paraparaumu was started in marginal weather conditions. On approach, at an altitude of 2,000 feet, the twin engine aircraft christened 'Keruru' hit tree tops and crashed on the wooded slope of a mountain located in Waikanae, about 11 km from the airport. The wreckage was reached by rescuers two hours later. The aircraft was destroyed and all 15 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The accident was caused by a faulty navigation on part of the crew who continued the approach at an insufficient altitude. Low visibility due to low clouds was considered as a contributory factor.

Crash of a Lockheed 10A Electra in Mt Ruapehu: 13 killed

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1948 at 1415 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed 10 Electra

Operator:

Registration:

ZK-AGK

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Manawatu-Wanganui (Horizons Regional Council)

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Palmerston North – Hamilton

MSN:

1128

Location:

Mt Ruapehu

Country:

Region:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions with strong winds and rain showers. In low visibility, the aircraft christened 'Kaka' hit the slope of Mt Ruapehu and disintegrated on impact, killing all 13 occupants. The aircraft was off course at the time of the accident.

Probable cause:

Failure of the crew to take the appropriate measures to follow the correct track. However, strong winds and the lack of radio navigational beacon was considered as a contributory factor.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-30-DK in Rununder Point: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 9, 1948 at 0845 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

ZK-AOE

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Blenheim – Paraparaumu

MSN:

16383/33131

YOM:

1945

Location:

Port Underwood

Marlborough District Council

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

About 15 minutes after takeoff from Blenheim-Woodbourne Airport, while on a cargo flight to Paraparaumu, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. The aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located in Rununder Point, near Port Underwood, 32 km northeast of Blenheim. Both pilots were killed.
Crew:
Murdo McLeod,
R. J. R. H. Makgill.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Lockheed 10A Electra in Tauranga

Date & Time: Apr 19, 1948 at 1520 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed 10 Electra

Operator:

Registration:

ZK-AGJ

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Auckland – Tauranga – Gisborne

MSN:

1127

YOM:

1937

Location:

Tauranga

Bay of Plenty Regional Council

Country:

Region: