Inquiries & Recommendations

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On Friday 22 September 2000, at about 2338, express freight Train 521 derailed when travelling too fast for the first curve encountered descending the 1 in 35 down grade on the Westmere bank. The 2 locomotives were severely damaged when they overturned following the derailment. The locomotive engineer received only minor injuries. The reason for the excessive speed was the locomotive engineer’s loss of awareness during a microsleep.

At about 1640 on Tuesday 19 September 2000, Train P28 Pahiatua - Palmerston North shunting service passed signal 4R at Danger and entered the main line at Woodville which was occupied by opposing Train 601 Bay Express passenger express. Train 601 had a Clear Proceed signalled route and was not expecting to stop. The conflict was soon realised and both trains were brought to a stop about 750 m apart. Train P28 derailed when its locomotive engineer tried to reverse off the main line through a set of points that had been "run through" when the signal had been passed at Danger.

On Saturday 22 July 2000, at about 1927, express freight Train 378 derailed when it entered a crossover at the north end of Te Maunga while travelling too fast. The locomotive was severely damaged when it overturned following the derailment. The locomotive engineer suffered minor injuries. The train controller had incorrectly set a medium speed route to Mount Maunganui instead of the intended high speed route to Tauranga. The locomotive engineer did not react to the unexpected signal aspects displayed. Safety issues identified included:

[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 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.]