Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
Date: | Monday 25 October 1993 |
Time: | 12:45 |
Type: |  GAF Nomad N.22 |
Operator: | Hibiscus Air |
Registration: | ZK-NOM |
MSN: | 4 |
First flight: | 1975 |
Total airframe hrs: | 3850 |
Engines: | 2 Allison 250-B17B |
Crew: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
Passengers: | Fatalities: 7 / Occupants: 7 |
Total: | Fatalities: 9 / Occupants: 9 |
Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
Location: | Franz Josef Glacier ( New Zealand)
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Crash site elevation: | 1370 m (4495 feet) amsl |
Phase: | En route (ENR) |
Nature: | Domestic Non Scheduled Passenger |
Departure airport: | Mount Cook-Glentanner Airport (GTN/NZGT), New Zealand |
Destination airport: | Queenstown-Frankton Airport (ZQN/NZQN), New Zealand |
Narrative:The aircraft, a GAF Nomad N.22, had been chartered to fly a German group to a number of tourist destinations in New Zealand. On day 7 of the tour the group was to be flown from Mount Cook to Queenstown. The flight was to include scenic flying in the Mount Cook region. The flight took off from Mount Cook-Glentanner Airport at 11:55. While en route the crew made position reports by radio and was seen flying below the 3500 feet cloud base in the Franz Josef Valley.
The aircraft's position and its heading, more or less directly up the centre-line of the Franz Josef Glacier, drew the attention of a witness. It was then seen to fly at 400-500 feet over the glacier. The aircraft continued until it struck a severely crevassed and pinnacled upper ice-fall of Franz Josef Glacier at an elevation of 4500 feet (1370 m) amsl.
Probable Cause:
The probable cause of this accident was the decision to attempt to climb above the lower region of Franz Josef Glacier which had an average slope steeper than the aircraft could outclimb. A causal factor was the crew's lack of training and experience in mountain flying rendering them vulnerable to visual misperception. Probable contributing factors included a cloud layer limiting the position and altitude at which climb could be commenced and an optimistic assessment ofthe aircraft's capability and progress during the climb.
Accident investigation:
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Investigating agency: | TAIC New Zealand  |
Status: | Investigation completed |
Duration: | 190 days (6 months) | Accident number: | 93-014 | Download report: | Final report
|
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Classification:
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Mountain
Sources:
» 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) |
Show all...
Photos

probable flight path

accident date:
25-10-1993type: GAF Nomad N.22
registration: ZK-NOM

accident date:
25-10-1993type: GAF Nomad N.22
registration: VH-AUH
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: Exact; as reported in the official accident report.
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.