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Auckland Council

Crash of a Fletcher FU-24 in Orakei

Date & Time: Oct 29, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-CDW
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Auckland - Auckland
MSN:
90
YOM:
1962
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.

Crash of a Grumman G-44 Widgeon in Auckland: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 24, 1970 at 0744 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-BAY
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Mechanics Bay - Mechanics Bay
MSN:
1362
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Pilot Roger Poole was taking a TV news crew of three to film a burning 8.5m launch near Browns Island. After circling the launch and landing nearby, the floatplane took off and circled to the right at low level. It straighten out as if to return to base at Mechanics Bay, but then banked steeply to the right, the turn becoming near vertical. The nose dropped and it crashed into the sea, killing all four aboard.
Probable cause:
The investigation found the float near the wingtip could obscure filming, but for a better camera angle the aircraft could be flown with the right rudder to skid around the nose, with opposite aileron to counteract any rolling effect. The pilots view to the right was obstructed by the camera operator, he was flying into the early morning sun, and the artificial horizon was switched off and locked, all of which prevented him realising the dangerous angle until too late.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.84 Dragon I in Auckland

Date & Time: Apr 23, 1967
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
ZK-AXI
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Auckland - Auckland
MSN:
2057
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Auckland-Ardmore Airport, while in initial climb, the left engine failed. The pilot elected to make an emergency landing when the airplane stalled and crashed in a grassy area. All eight occupants were injured and the airplane was written off. They were involved in a local skydiving mission.
Probable cause:
The left engine stopped following the failure of a fuel line.

Crash of a Douglas DC-8-52 in Auckland: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 4, 1966 at 1559 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-NZB
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Auckland - Auckland
MSN:
45751
YOM:
1965
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
17966
Captain / Total hours on type:
497.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
4200
Copilot / Total hours on type:
21
Aircraft flight hours:
2275
Circumstances:
The aircraft was making the first take-off of a routine crew training flight at Auckland International Airport, New Zealand. Time of departure was 1559 hours New Zealand Standard Time. All five occupants were seated on the flight deck. Shortly after rotation, the starboard wing dropped, the aircraft failed to accelerate and gain height normally and side-slipped inward until the wing tip struck the ground. The aircraft then cartwheeled clockwise about the nose radome and progressively disintegrated. Initial impact took place 3,865 feet beyond the threshold and 97.5 ft to starboard of runway 23, the active runway. Two crew members were killed and three others were injured. The aircraft was totally destroyed.
Probable cause:
The primary cause of this accident was,the incurrence of reverse thrust during simulated failure of No. 4 engine on take-off. That condition arose when very rapid rearward movement of the power lever (customary only on crew training flights involving simulated engine failure) generated an inertia force which caused the associated thrust brake lever to rise and enter the reverse idle detent. After lift-off, the minimum control speed essentially required to overcome the prevailing state of thrust imbalance was never attained and an uncontrollable roll, accompanied by some degree of yaw and side-slip in the same direction, ensued. When the condition of reverse thrust was recognized and eliminated,insufficient time and height were available to allow the aircraft to recover from its precarious attitude before it struck the ground.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed L-188C Electra in Whenuapai

Date & Time: Mar 27, 1965
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-TEC
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Whenuapai - Whenuapai
MSN:
2011
YOM:
1959
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training mission at Whenuapai Airport. Following several uneventful manoeuvres, the crew completed a new approach for landing when, on short final, the airplane sank and stuck the runway surface at a speed of 140 knots. On impact, the left main gear was sheared off and the airplane went out of control and veered off runway to the left. While contacting soft ground, the left wing was torn off and the aircraft came to rest in flames. All six occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
It is believed that control was lost between the last segment and flare due to a wrong approach configuration.

Crash of a Fletcher FU-24 in Puhoi

Date & Time: Feb 7, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-BHX
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
25
YOM:
1956
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 Puhoi while conducting a crop spraying mission. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-35-DK off Hobsonville

Date & Time: Nov 16, 1950
Operator:
Registration:
NZ3549
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Whenuapai - Whenuapai
MSN:
16734/33482
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing single engine approaches and landings at RNZAF Whenuapai. On approach, the second engine failed. The aircraft stalled and crashed into the bay off Hobsonville. All three crew members were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Lockheed 18 LodeStar in Auckland

Date & Time: May 13, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-AHU
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
18-2490
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The 'pilot' stole the aircraft christened 'Karoro' that crashed on takeoff at Auckland-Mangere Airport. The aircraft went out of control during the takeoff roll and crashed. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It appears the pilot did not know piloting techniques.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura in Kaukapakapa: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 21, 1945 at 1030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NZ4518
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Whenuapai - Whenuapai
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training mission out of Whenuapai AFB when the twin engine aircraft collided with a RNZAF C-47 registered NZ3501 over Kaukapakapa. The crew of the C-47 was able to return to Whenuapai AFB with minor damages and landed safely. The captain of the Ventura ordered his crew to bail out and attempted to make an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in a field in Kaukapakapa. The pilot F/Lt William Farnsworth was killed while his crew was unhurt.

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

Date & Time: Oct 26, 1944 at 1050 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NZ4519
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Whenuapai - Whenuapai
MSN:
5532
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a circular training flight at RNZAF Whenuapai. On final approach, the right engine failed. The captain increased the power on left engine and with full flaps, attempted a single engine approach. The aircraft banked right, went out of control and crashed into trees. Four crew members were killed while the fifth occupant was seriously injured. He died a day later.
Crew (8th Squadron):
F/Sgt Edward Brightwell,
F/Sgt James Pederson,
F/Sgt Archibald Alexander,
Sgt Harold Mauger,
Sgt Russell Robbie.
Probable cause:
The right engine failed most probably because the fuel selector was connected on an empty tank. It appears the pilot in command was not sufficiently trained to face up to such situation and his general experience was insufficient. When the control was lost on final approach, the left engine was at full power and the flaps were down, making the aircraft more vulnerable. These elements were considered as contributory factors, especially as the pilot had not been adequately trained to fly in such a configuration.