Inquiries & Recommendations

Ngā ketuketutanga me ngā tūtohunga

The aircraft departed from Palmerston North Aerodrome on the afternoon of 21 May 1995 on a solo cross-country flight to Napier, Gisborne and return. A touch and go landing was made at Napier in the course of the outbound flight, and following a similarly uneventful touch and go landing at Gisborne the aircraft departed for Palmerston North. During the return flight the pilot requested, and received, clearance to pass through the Napier Terminal Control Area. The pilot's acknowledgement of the clearance was the last recorded communication from the aircraft.

On 6 December 1993 an express freight train operated by New Zealand Rail Limited derailed when it entered a crossover at the south end of Te Kauwhata while travelling too fast. The locomotive and all twelve wagons in the train were derailed, with substantial damage to all vehicles and the track. The Locomotive Engineer had encountered a signal he did not expect, interpreted it wrongly, and failed to slow the train for passage through the crossover.

[This investigation was superseded by report 94-117 Revised.]

At about 4am on 28 July 2021, fishing vessel Commission (motoring) collided with the container vessel Kota Lembah (drifting awaiting port berth at Auckland). Damage to fishing vessel stabiliser and wheelhouse. Neither vessel’s hull was breached. Nobody hurt. TAIC recommendations address 3 key issues: watchkeeping standards & practice; adherence to collision prevention rules; and fatigue.

ZK-PTS was on a private flight from Hastings to Ardmore via Hamilton, in company with another aircraft of the same type. The weather between Hawkes Bay and Taupo was overcast with a variable base, and scattered rain showers. Northwest of Napier the pilots found their intended route obscured by rain shower. The pilot of ZK-PTS declared his intention to climb above the cloud while his colleague elected to continue circling awaiting an improvement in the weather. The pilot of ZK-PTS subsequently reported his position at 5800 feet on the 283 radial from Napier and climbing.

The pilot and passenger departed from Ardmore Aerodrome in Robinson helicopter ZK-HYX for a 20 minute local flight. The aircraft failed to return. Later in the day the wreckage of ZK-HYX was located in a bush covered gully. The pilot and passenger had received fatal injuries in the accident.

On Saturday 28 March 1998 at 1707 hours Train 201, the southbound Auckland to Wellington Overlander passenger express, struck a displaced load on Train 242, a Wellington to Palmerston North express freight train which was berthed in the Longburn loop. There were no injuries. Train 201 suffered superficial damage to the locomotive and carriages. Safety deficiencies identified were: · the lack of appreciation of correct load securing requirements · insufficient training of staff involved in loading

At 1824 hours on Thursday 4 September 1997 Shunt M28 from Morrinsville to Te Rapa collided with an "A Train" milk tanker and trailer on a private level crossing, resulting in serious injury to the tanker driver.

On Sunday, 16 July 1995 at about 2125 hours the fishing trawler "Awanui 6129" capsized while its crew were attempting to manoeuvre it across the Westport Bar, inbound. The two crew members lost their lives and the boat was declared a total constructive loss. Safety issues identified included measures necessary to avoid succumbing to the dangers involved in crossing bar harbours in adverse conditions.

The log carrier Funing was departing port when its main engine failed. Drifting in the current, its propeller and rudder tangled in a buoy mooring chain. A fuel injection unit had seized due to coking debris caused by low-viscosity low-sulphur fuel. Ship’s crew unaware of latest maintenance guidance about effect of low-sulphur fuel on engine. Key issues: engine maintenance, tug assistance, crew resource management.

A passenger train collided with a truck, fatally injuring the truck driver. Truck had stopped but phone call distracted truck driver, who reduced pressure on brake and truck moved onto track. TAIC calls for formal determinations whether to implement level crossing safety recommendations; and a formal approach to prioritise upgrades for highest risk level crossings.

Bus drove into side of locomotive at level crossing. Bus driver fatally injured. Bus driver likely expected empty tracks and drove to go straight across. Did not notice in time that lights and bells were active. TAIC calls for NZTA to review road rule, consult rail sector, consider all risks for level crossing risks – especially those near road intersections.