Inquiries & Recommendations

Ngā ketuketutanga me ngā tūtohunga

At approximately 0922 hours on Friday 9 June 1995 a de Havilland DHC-8 aircraft, ZK-NEY, collided with the terrain some 16 km east of Palmerston North Aerodrome while carrying out an instrument approach. One crew member and three passengers lost their lives and two crew members and 12 passengers were seriously injured in the accident.

At approximately 1100 hours on Wednesday 7 June 1995 a Fletcher FU24A-954, ZK-EMU, collided with the face of a hill during a sowing run and caught fire. The aircraft was destroyed, and the pilot lost his life in the accident. Pilot incapacitation was the probable cause of this accident. The incapacitation was sufficient to cause loss of situational awareness and loss of aircraft control at a critical phase of flight. No safety issues were identified as a result of this investigation.

On Tuesday, 6 June 1995 at 1415 hours the pilot was carrying out a snow landing in ZK-HDI in the course of a scenic flight. The right skid began to drop as the pilot settled the helicopter onto the snow so he lifted off and repositioned to a seemingly flatter area 10 to 15 m away. The helicopter tilted to the right again during the second landing, and as the pilot attempted to retrieve the situation the helicopter rolled rapidly onto its right side. The causal factors in this accident were the difficulty of assessing snow conditions accurately and "dynamic rollover".

On Wednesday 31 May 1995 at about 0400 hours the Te Rapa North Shunt operated by New Zealand Rail Limited was shunting at Frankton. The Senior Shunter in charge of movements was riding on the footplate on the rear of the locomotive when he lost his footing and fell under the single attached wagon. The Senior Shunter was seriously injured. The causal factor was the Senior Shunter's loss of balance while attempting to read the wagon destination card during the shunting movement.

On Wednesday, 24 May 1995 at about 0820 hours Q2 Shunt operated by New Zealand Rail Limited was shunting at Gracefield yard. During a propelling movement to attempt to catch and hook onto a moving wagon, the Rail Operator riding on the leading wagon fell under the Shunt and was killed instantly. Causal factors were unauthorised shunting procedures, wagon drawbar condition, limited experience of staff and effectiveness of compliance monitoring. Safety deficiencies addressed in the report are the suitability of and compliance with instructions covering loose shunting.

Addendum to report 95-008: The wreckage and occupant were found on 8 April 2001 in forested high terrain, substantially west of the planned track. The aircraft was probably in controlled flight when it collided with terrain, about 42 minutes after departing from Gisborne. No explanation for the track deviation was found.

The aircraft departed from Palmerston North Aerodrome on the afternoon of 21 May 1995 on a solo cross-country flight to Napier, Gisborne and return. A touch and go landing was made at Napier in the course of the outbound flight, and following a similarly uneventful touch and go landing at Gisborne the aircraft departed for Palmerston North. During the return flight the pilot requested, and received, clearance to pass through the Napier Terminal Control Area. The pilot's acknowledgement of the clearance was the last recorded communication from the aircraft.

On Thursday, 18 May 1995 at about 0710 hours a remote controlled locomotive operated by New Zealand Rail Limited (NZRL) was returning light from Kings Wharf to Wellington Yard when it struck a front end loader foul of the line. As a result of the impact the Remote Control Operator riding on the front of the locomotive was thrown to the ground and picked up and dragged by the cowcatcher of the locomotive. The causal factor was the uncontrolled operation of the front end loader obstructing a main shunting leg serving Wellington Wharf.

At approximately 0720 hours on 8 May 1995 a Fletcher FU24-950, ZK-EMB, flown by a recently qualified agricultural pilot, squashed onto the ground in a stalled condition at a high rate of descent, in a wings level attitude. The pilot received serious injuries in the accident.

On 2 May 1995 at about 2042 hours one wagon of an eastbound freight operated by New Zealand Rail Limited (NZRL) between Greymouth and Middleton, derailed near Omoto whilst ascending a grade at slow speed. The derailed wagon was the second last wagon on the train and derailed all wheels. As a result the coupling and air connections to the last wagon parted and it ran back down the grade for approximately 4 kilometres.

[A preliminary investigation showed that the circumstances were not likely to have significant implications for transport safety. Consistent with section 13 of the TAIC Act the Commission discontinued the investigation and no report was published.]

On 16 April 1995 at 1425 hours the Wave-Piercing Catamaran "Condor 10", inbound on approaches to Picton Harbour, suffered a total blackout of main power and ran aground on "The Snout". No injuries were sustained by passengers or crew and damage to the vessel was slight. Causal factors included mechanical failure, fault analysis procedures, and faults in setting up and testing the vessel's electrical systems. Recommendations included design changes, better management of maintenance, and more stringent testing procedures on a more regular basis.