On Thursday 18 March 1999 at about 1645 hours, ZK-DOA, a Cessna 206 on an aerial surveillance air transport flight around Pitt Island, had a sudden engine failure and ditched in the sea. The pilot and four passengers escaped from the aircraft and swam to shore without the aid of life-jackets. Life-jackets were on board the aircraft for the occupants' use but there was insufficient time for them to locate and don the jackets.
The aircraft was not recovered from the sea and the cause of the engine failure was not established.
A safety recommendation about the wearing of life-jackets was made to the Civil Aviation Authority.
