Inquiries & Recommendations

Ngā ketuketutanga me ngā tūtohunga

On Thursday 6 July 2000 at about 0915, Aoraki Balloon Safaris Aerostar S81A hot air balloon ZK-SKY was on a local flight in good weather near Methven with 13 passengers and 2 crew. During a go-around following a missed approach to land, the balloon descended to a position where a power line could not be avoided. After contacting the earth wire the balloon could not be climbed clear, so it was descended between the live power conductors underneath, to land without injury or damage.

On Wednesday 5 July 2000 at about 0900, the bulk carrier "Dorthe Oldendorff" departed from Chelsea Wharf in Auckland Harbour. The ship was under pilotage and its unberthing was assisted by 2 tugs: one port company tug and one contract tug. The ship was let go from the wharf and turned around into the channel in readiness to transit the harbour. While the skipper of the contract tug, "Mahia", was preparing to let go, weight came on the towline causing the tug to heel heavily. The towline parted and the "Mahia" rapidly righted itself, throwing the deckhand overboard.

On Saturday 1 July 2000 at 1457, Great Barrier Airlines PA 32 aeroplane ZK-DSQ was on a charter flight to Great Mercury Island with 4 passengers when it overran the uphill grass runway on landing. No injury occurred, but the aircraft was substantially damaged. The overrun resulted from excessive tailwind, and the pilot’s decision to land was probably based on an incorrect assessment of the tailwind component on the runway. Safety issues identified include: • the definition of the tailwind limitation in the airline’s operations manual

On Thursday 29 June 2000 at about 1505, the jet boat "Discovery" was approaching Tyrees Cut on the Shotover River with the driver and 15 passengers on board. The driver had reduced speed approaching the cut, and as he attempted to accelerate to maintain control of the boat the left side of his boot momentarily caught on the accelerator surround, preventing him from applying optimum power for the manoeuvre, causing the boat to drift to the right of the intended track. The stern of the boat clipped the canyon wall, causing it to spin towards a recess in the wall.

On Friday 16 June 2000 at about 1515, the commercial jet boat "Huka Jet 1" with a driver and 7 passengers on board was proceeding at about 80 km/h through a section of the Waikato River known as “First Shallows” when the engine failed. As a consequence the driver lost all directional control and was unable to slow the boat. The boat collided with overhanging trees on the riverbank, slewed to the right, continued through the trees and grounded on the riverbank. Two of the passengers received minor injuries. Safety issues identified included:

On Thursday 15 June 2000 at around 1400, ZK-RCA, a Metro III, landed on runway 14 at Gisborne Aerodrome at which time its left undercarriage drag braces both failed, causing the left undercarriage to collapse aft. A go-around was carried out and the aircraft flown to Hamilton Aerodrome for a wheels-up landing. The 2 pilots on board the aircraft were not injured.

On Wednesday 14 June 2000 at about 0100, Train 630 Wellington to Napier express freight overran its track warrant limit by about 1100 m. The overrun occurred when the locomotive engineer did not identify and stop at the limit of his track warrant authority at Tapuata and continued on before coming to a stop about 100 m from No 3 FI points indicator at the south end of Dannevirke station.

[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.]

At about 0914 on Wednesday, 31 May 2000, the passenger ferries "Quickcat" and "Quickcat II" were operating on the ferry service between Waiheke Island and Auckland when they collided about 0.5 miles east of the northern leading light in Auckland Harbour. The visibility in the area at the time of the collision was about 50 m due to fog. There was a total of 127 passengers and 7 crew aboard the 2 vessels, none of whom were injured. Safety issues identified included: • the speed of the 2 vessels in restricted visibility • the inefficient use of radar for collision avoidance

[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 Wednesday 10 May 2000 at about 1130, while the Middleton yard shunt was propelling a rake of 5 wagons into the freight centre grid, the shunter fell under the leading wagon of the rake as he tried to board it and was killed instantly. Safety issues addressed in the report are: • the potential for inexperienced staff to be involved in shunting fatalities • the lack of a support programme for newly qualified entrants into safety-critical areas such as the shunting environment

On Tuesday, 9 May 2000, at about 1430, a collision occurred between a rail-mounted excavator, operating as a hi-rail vehicle, and Train 688 at 216.5 km between Waipunga and Waikoau on the Palmerston North - Gisborne Line. The excavator was operating outside its authorised work area and beyond the agreed "check call" time with the train controller when the collision occurred. There were no injuries.