Inquiries & Recommendations

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At 1555 on Friday 26 October 2007, Cessna A152 ZK-KID was on a cross-country navigation training flight when it entered a narrow and rising valley at low level from which escape was impossible. As the instructor attempted to manoeuvre out of the valley, the aircraft struck several trees. The instructor was killed and the student suffered serious injuries, but was able to walk out and summon assistance.

Between Friday 19 October 2007 and Sunday 5 October 2008, there were 12 occurrences when wheel-bearings failed on wagons travelling on express freight trains at various locations in the North and South Island. Seven of the 12 wheel-bearing failures resulted in the affected wagon derailing, and causing a number of following wagons to also derail. The derailments caused extensive damage to the rolling stock, freight it was conveying and the rail network. On 2 occasions, molten metal from the failed wheel-bearings resulted in fires in trackside foliage and across adjacent land.

At about 1915 on Saturday 22 September 2007, southbound express freight Train 239 parted between the 22nd and 23rd wagons while the train was travelling on the North Island Main Trunk line between Te Awamutu and Te Kawa. The emergency brakes applied automatically as the air pressure in the brake pipe reduced and both portions of the train rolled to a stop, some distance apart.

[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.]

[Incorporated into Report 07-005] On 29 May 2007, a Saab SF340A aircraft that was holding on an angled taxiway at Auckland International Airport was inadvertently cleared to line up in front of a landing Raytheon 1900D. The aerodrome controller transmitted an amended clearance, but the transmission crossed with that of the Saab crew reading back the line-up clearance. The pilots of both aircraft took action to avoid a collision and stopped on the runway without any damage or injury.

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.

The Commission was New Zealand's Accredited Representative to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau's investigation into the above occurrence. Their report was published as Aviation Occurrence Investigation AO-2007-023. Using the link in the sidebar to the right.

[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.]

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch investigated this ocurrence on behalf of TAIC, and published their findings as which can be found using the link in the sidebar to the right.

At about 1330 on 21 June 2007, the specialised bulk iron sand carrier Taharoa Express left its single buoy mooring in Port Taharoa to seek refuge in Tasman Bay from forecast severe weather. The ship had been scheduled to have a slurry of about 116 000 dry tonnes of iron sand mixed with water pumped aboard. Earlier during the loading process the ship’s duct keel had flooded with water from the slurry-loading process, disabling the ship's ballast and cargo de-watering systems.

On Tuesday 19 June 2007 at about 1105, express freight Train MP2 was travelling between Huntly and Te Kauwhata when it struck a gantry crane from Work Train 22. Work Train 22 was stationary and was working on the adjacent Down Main line with its cranes fouling the Up Main line. The gantry swung around and struck one of the crane operators, knocking him from the wagon and under the passing train. The operator was fatally injured. The safety issues identified included: • the unfamiliarity of staff working in double-line territory

On Monday 18 June 2007 at 0812, ZK-EAK, a Hawker Beechcraft Corporation 1900D, was on approach to land at Wellington when the landing gear failed to lower. The 2-pilot crew completed a missed approach and further attempted to lower the landing gear by both normal and emergency means. The landing gear remained retracted, so the crew elected to divert to Woodbourne where a wheels-up landing was made. The aircraft sustained moderate damage consistent with a wheels-up landing. There was no injury to the crew or the 15 passengers.