Inquiries & Recommendations

Ngā ketuketutanga me ngā tūtohunga

On Thursday 29 November 2001, at about 0930, Cessna A185E Skywagon ZK-JGI took off from Motueka Aerodrome on a local parachuting flight. Shortly after take-off, at about 100 feet, ZK-JGI had a sudden and total power loss. Unable to re-establish power, the pilot guided the aircraft to a nearby kiwifruit orchard. After clipping trees the aircraft struck the ground heavily, resulting in the pilot and 4 parachutists receiving serious injuries and 1 parachutist sustaining minor injuries. The power loss was due to the pilot inadvertently selecting the fuel Off before the flight.

Between March 2007 and October 2009 there were 5 derailments involving container wagons conveying single 6-metre (m) containers loaded with bulk grain, positioned on the leading ends of the wagons. The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (the Commission) combined the events into a single inquiry.

On Thursday 25 January 2001 at about 0945, the commercial jet boat "Huka Jet 3", with a driver and 10 passengers on board, was proceeding at about 60 km/h into the area known as the "Second Tunnel" on Lake Aratiatia on the Waikato River near Taupo, when the extreme right rear of the boat struck a rock on the riverbank. The impact slewed the boat to the right and despite the driver’s efforts to regain control, the boat climbed the riverbank and came to rest among the trees within the tunnel area. Four of the passengers were severely injured and 4 others received minor injuries.

In February 2015 the Kea passenger ferry from downtown Auckland struck Devonport wharf at speed after the master was unable to properly control the vessel’s propulsion system. The Kea’s hull was damaged and seven passengers were hospitalised. Fullers Ferries have taken action to address personnel and training issues; to modify vessel systems and implement a new safety management system. Maritime NZ has responded positively to a Recommendation for businesses in the sector to adopt a risk-based approach to changes to critical systems.

On Sunday 30 October 2005 at about 1820, wagon UKR84 on Train 246, a Wellington to Auckland express freight service, derailed at 32.08 km, South Junction, between Pukerua Bay and Paekakariki, on the North Island Main Trunk. The wagon derailed as its leading bogie passed over a set of trailing points.

At the time of this incident the Taharoa Express and the loading operation at Port Taharoa were unique. Iron ore (including ironsand) was normally loaded dry, with particular care needed to ensure that the cargo moisture content was below what was called its transportable moisture limit. The transportable moisture limit was the moisture level at which the cargo was said to be safe from liquefaction.

On approach to Great Barrier Aerodrome, the aircraft undershot the runway and contacted the lip of the drainage ditch at the runway's end. The left undercarriage leg was torn off, and the aircraft slid to a halt on its belly and right undercarriage leg. None of the six occupants were injured.

On Friday 6 June 2003, Air Adventures New Zealand Limited Piper PA 31-350 Navajo Chieftain aeroplane ZK-NCA, was on an air transport charter flight from Palmerston North to Christchurch with one pilot and 9 passengers. At 1907 it was on an instrument approach to Christchurch Aerodrome at night in instrument meteorological conditions when it descended below minimum altitude, in a position where reduced visibility prevented runway or approach lights from being seen, to collide with trees and terrain 1.2 nm short of the runway.

On 5 April 1993 a motor vehicle travelling west on Bridge Street, Eltham, was struck by a southbound locomotive as it entered the Bridge Street level crossing. The driver and sole occupant of the motor vehicle was killed in the collision. The crossing was protected by warning lights and bells which were operating at the time of the accident.

On Thursday, 23 September 1999, at about 0703, the coastal tanker "Kakariki" was outbound from Dunedin with 19 crew, 2 supernumeraries, one harbour pilot and one trainee harbour pilot on board. The vessel was proceeding down Victoria Channel in the upper harbour of Port Otago at between 6 and 7 knots when it took a sudden sheer to port. The bridge team was able to counteract the sheer just short of the vessel running aground, realign it in the channel, and complete the outbound passage without further incident. There were no injuries and the vessel suffered no damage.

[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 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.]