Inquiries & Recommendations

Ngā ketuketutanga me ngā tūtohunga

[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.]

A fatal controlled flight into terrain occurred after aircraft turned away from planned/ authorised route in uncontrolled airspace. Terrain proximity awareness system either too dim or not selected. All pilots should follow Civil Aviation Rules, apply validation steps such as cross-checking altitude and distance for flight plans, use onboard safety equipment. Flight training schools should have robust flight authorisation systems.

On Thursday 19 October 1995 at 0940 hours, Cameron A-210 balloon ZK-FAR, on a passenger scenic flight, was overtaken by a squall line, lifted and blown out to sea near North New Brighton, Christchurch. Three passengers were drowned. The rapid approach of the squall line and the pilot's non-observance of it because of preoccupation were factors in the accident. Safety issues addressed were the carriage of lifejackets, and procedures for approval of check pilots.

TAIC reports on fatal capsize of recreational boat while crossing harbour bar. NZ needs to require boats to be registered, and we need minimum standards for boat design and construction, and we need to assess skippers for minimum standards of knowledge and boat handling. To accept the status quo is to accept the current rate of 15-20 deaths a year. Education campaigns to encourage safer boating are good but not enough; they don’t reach all skippers and listening is optional.

New TAIC Final Report presents crucial lessons for ship operations, human factors, and Pilot training. A bulk carrier ship, under conduct of harbour pilot, went off course in strong wind while entering Bluff Harbour. Its anchors failed to deploy in time, and it contacted the seabed. Minor damage to ship hull, damage to 2 tugs, no personal injuries.

On 22 April 2019, a BK117-C1 helicopter (ZK-IMX) on a medical evacuation positioning flight to the Auckland Islands arrived after dark and continued under visual flight rules using night vision goggles. While attempting to descend below cloud near Enderby Island, the helicopter impacted the sea. The three crew escaped, swam to shore, and were rescued the next day with minor injuries. The helicopter was recovered three weeks later.

A freight train collided with a hi-Rail vehicle on the main south-line between Milton and Henley in South Otago. The occupant of the Hi-Rail vehicle exited prior to impact and was not injured. The hi-Rail was substantially damaged.

On the evening of Friday 27 January 2023, Boeing 777-319ER ZK-OKN was returning to land at Auckland, having flown from Auckland to Melbourne earlier that day. As the aeroplane neared the runway it began to drift right of the runway centreline. Soon after touchdown it veered off the runway onto a sealed shoulder.

In the early evening of 2 April 2024, the crew of an Air New Zealand Airbus A320 reported seeing what they described as a drone while at 2000 feet on the final approach for runway 23L at Auckland. As a result of the drone sighting, and for the safety of other aircraft, Air Traffic Control closed that portion of the Auckland airspace for 15 minutes, resulting in delays to other inbound aircraft.

On 27 April 2022, the Minister of Transport directed the Transport Accident Investigation Commission to investigate two fatal stevedoring accidents under section 13(2) of the Transport Accident Investigation Commission Act 1990. Although the accidents occurred separately, the Commission identified common systemic safety issues and has therefore presented both inquiries in a single report, noting their relevance to the wider stevedoring industry. The first accident occurred on 19 April 2022 at the Port of Auckland, where a stevedore employed by Wallace Investments Limited was fatally crushed after moving beneath a suspended container onboard the Capitaine Tasman. The second occurred on 25 April 2022 at Lyttelton Port, where a stevedore employed by Lyttelton Port Company Limited was found deceased on the ETG Aquarius, buried under coal during loading operations.

On 27 April 2022, the Minister of Transport directed the Transport Accident Investigation Commission to investigate two fatal stevedoring accidents under section 13(2) of the Transport Accident Investigation Commission Act 1990. Although the accidents occurred separately, the Commission identified common systemic safety issues and has therefore presented both inquiries in a single report, noting their relevance to the wider stevedoring industry. The first accident occurred on 19 April 2022 at the Port of Auckland, where a stevedore employed by Wallace Investments Limited was fatally crushed after moving beneath a suspended container onboard the Capitaine Tasman. The second occurred on 25 April 2022 at Lyttelton Port, where a stevedore employed by Lyttelton Port Company Limited was found deceased on the ETG Aquarius, buried under coal during loading operations.

Bulk carrier & commercial fishing boat collided in good visibility night conditions. No substantial damage, no serious injuries or fatalities. Those operating each vessel, aware of the other, acted too late. Neither made best use of radar. Bulk carrier bridge team distracted by passengers. Fishing boat watchkeeper should have known more about collision-prevention rules.