Inquiries & Recommendations

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At about 0702 hours on Wednesday, 20 October 1999 Train 938, a northbound express freight, collided with Train 919, a southbound intercity express freight, which was stationary on the main line within station limits at Waipahi on the Main South Line. The locomotive engineer of Train 919 was fatally injured, and the locomotive engineer of Train 938 was seriously injured. The two locomotives on Train 919 and the single locomotive on Train 938 were extensively damaged, as were a number of wagons and containers.

On Saturday, 25 March 1995 at 0312 hours the Bulk Carrier MV "Alltrans VKBE", outward bound from Tiwai Point, ran aground in "Number Three Reach" of the Bluff Harbour Channel. Causal factors included human fatigue, tension and loss of situational awareness. It was recommended to the Manager Operations for Southport New Zealand Ltd that he review the roster procedures for Southport Harbour Pilots.

At approximately 1425 hours on Sunday 2 April 1995 a Cessna 152 aircraft, ZK-FJX stalled at a low height, dropped the left wing and collided with the terrain, near Matakana some 7 km north-east of Warkworth. The pilot and passenger lost their lives in the accident. The safety issue discussed relates to the need for pilots to resist the temptation to conduct impromptu low level flying The causal factors were failure to maintain a safe height above the terrain and inexperience in low flying.

On Wednesday 7 March 2001 at about 2233 Train 531, a southbound express freight train collided with the rear of Train 547, another southbound express freight service which had stalled on the Mokoia Bank between Whareroa and Mokoia on the Marton to New Plymouth Line. Train 531 had entered the section and was going to assist Train 547 when the collision occurred. The locomotive engineer of Train 547 had not protected the rear of his disabled train to warn the locomotive engineer of Train 531 as he approached. Safety issues identified included:

A Robinson R44 helicopter crashed into dense bush in Glenbervie Forest near Whāngārei. The two occupants – the pilot and a forestry contractor – died in the crash, and the helicopter was consumed by fire. Crash and fire damage destroyed evidence, so the cause or causes could not be determined. The Commission has previously recommended that recorders be fitted to certain classes of helicopter to aid accident investigation.

On the afternoon of 10 June 2013, KiwiRail's Tranz Alpine passenger train was travelling from Greymouth to Christchurch. The train departed from the Otira station on time, heading for the western portal of the Otira Tunnel. At about the same time, signals technicians had finished work on testing the tunnel door and ventilation systems at the western portal of the tunnel.

On Wednesday 12 June 2002 at about 1308, a partially-sighted passenger fell from the doorway of Train 2643 while alighting at Silverstream. The train, an Upper Hutt to Wellington Tranz Metro electric multiple unit service, had stopped at the platform but the last doorway of the rear passenger car, from which the passenger fell, was positioned off the north end of the platform. The passenger suffered serious injuries that required hospital treatment. The safety issue identified was the berthing of electric multiple unit passenger services at suburban stations.

At about 1615 hours on 12 December 1994, Train F29, a Napier to Wellington express freight, collided with a Hi-Rail vehicle travelling in the opposite direction on the line. Nobody was injured, although the Hi-Rail vehicle was severely damaged. Causal factors involved fitness for duty and failure to clarify the Ganger's location requirements geographically. It was recommended that the Train Control Officer's requirement to establish the position of the required access to the track be extended to those requiring the access.

[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.]

ZK-DGU, a PA 28 aeroplane, collided with a tree on a dual training flight. Safety issues discussed are procedures for actual and simulated engine failures after take-off.