Narrative:The aircraft had been chartered to fly a German group to a number of tourist destinations in New Zealand. It had departed from Glentanner on a VFR flight to Queenstown. The flight was to include scenic flying in the Mount Cook region. A "taxiing" call was received at 11:53 hours but later attempts by Christchurch Flight Information to communicate with the aircraft were unsuccessful. The wreckage was sighted during the afternoon in a severely crevassed and pinnacled area of Franz Josef Glacier, at an elevation of 4500 feet (1370 m) amsl.
Classification:
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Mountain
Sources:
» Scramble 174
» TAIC Investigation 93-014
Follow-up / safety actions
TAIC issued 5 Safety Recommendations
Issued: 10-NOV-1993 | To: CAA NZ | 034/94 |
Review its medical Standards and Certification (Civil Aviation Rule Par 67) to consider the advisability of urine screening for THC* to be included as a discretionary component of all medical examinations if the medical examiner suspects the applicant of (Closed acceptable) |
Issued: 10-NOV-1993 | To: CAA NZ | 035/94 |
It develops detailed education material for all pilots and air traffic controllers covering the hazard so illicit drug use especially THC*. (*THC is the abbreviated term for 9^ Tetra Hydro Cannabinol, the principal active metanolite of marijuana or hashis (Closed acceptable) |
Issued: 10-NOV-1993 | To: CAA NZ | 077/93 |
The published information concerning VFR Operations in areas such as Mt Cook, Franz Josef/Fox Glacier, Milford Sound. Mt Ruapehu, Rotorua and other "Tourist designated areas" should be revised and expanded to give all pilots ready access to as much releva (Closed acceptable) |
Issued: 10-NOV-1993 | To: CAA NZ | 078/93 |
The training syllabus for the New Zealand Commercial Pilot Licence (Aeroplane) be amended to include "Mountainous-terrain flight training" and the extent of training required be similar to that already specified in the case of Commercial Pilot Licence Hel (Closed acceptable) |
Issued: 10-NOV-1993 | To: CAA NZ | 079/93 |
That the requirement for the carriage of flight data recorders be extended to include a basic FDR or CVR (where the aircraft is operated with more than one pilot) on all multi-engine aircraft used principally for Air transport Operations with seats for ni (Closed acceptable) |
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Photos

VH-AUH was briefly leased to Air Sea Service until being sold to New Zealand in April 1981. Hibiscus Air bought the plane in December 1992.
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does
not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Mount Cook-Glentanner Airport to Queenstown-Frankton Airport as the crow flies is 165 km (103 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.