ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 61152
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Friday 18 July 1980 |
| Time: | c. 11:55 |
| Type: |  APNZ Fletcher FU-24-950M |
| Owner/operator: | James Aviation Ltd |
| Registration: | ZK-CRP |
| MSN: | 125 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Near Kaikohe, Northland -
 New Zealand
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Ferry/positioning |
| Departure airport: | Kaitaia NZKT |
| Whangarei NZWR | |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information verified through data from accident investigation authorities |
Pilot: Terence Alfred Poynter. R.I.P.
The accident pilot was employed as a loader driver by the aircraft operator. He held a Commercial Pilot Licence and a type rating that covered the Fletcher FU24 series aircraft. He had acquired sixteen hours flying time in the FU24, confined to circuits and ferry work.
The company had its maintenance base at Kaitaia and the pilot, who was based at Whangarei, was given the task of flying another aircraft to Kaitaia and bringing ZK-CRP back to Whangarei.
The pilot arrived at Kaitaia in Fletcher ZK-CMY at 10:47 and departed for Whangarei in ZK-CRP at 11:34.
Just before noon the Fletcher was seen flying low in the vicinity of a farm owned by the pilot's parents in the Mataraua Valley, southwest of Kaikohe and at about the mid-point of the flight.
After making a low approach and overshoot on the airstrip of an adjoining property the pilot circled his parents' house before apparently starting to resume his course to Whangarei. The sole witness saw the plane making a 360 degree turn, probably to gain height, and then disappear behind a ridge. The witness thought that the plane was back on its normal flight path and it was only by chance that the wreckage of ZK-CRP was sighted from a passing helicopter a short while later.
The crash site was on a bush-covered spur not far from the point the plane was at when last seen. The Fletcher had struck the ground in a bank to the right and in a very steep nose down attitude. The airspeed at impact was low but this was not a survivable crash. Fire did not break out.
The local weather at the time was little or no wind with good visibility and a high overcast. Weather was not a factor.
The investigator found that the engine was producing power right up to impact. Integrity of the control runs was established. The weight and CG were well within the permitted limits. The hopper was empty. One " notch " of flap had been lowered.
After its maintenance the plane had been given a test flight and then fueled to capacity.
ZK-CRP was fitted with a small seeder attached to the hopper outlet. Tests on another Fletcher so fitted showed that this reduced the rate of climb by 400 feet per minute and increased the stalling speed by 2 to 6 knots depending on the flap position.
The investigator concluded that the probable cause of this accident was the inability of the pilot to recover from a stall incurred while manoeuvering an aircraft with unfamiliar performance characteristics at a low level in hilly terrain.
Sources:
1. http://archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewEntity.do?code=7333
2. Aircraft Accident Report No. 80-082.
3. AHSNZ, 1980, Newsletter 7.
History of this aircraft
Other occurrences involving this aircraft
| 3 June 1971 | ZK-CRP | James Aviation Ltd | Halcombe, Manawatu 3 | |
unk |
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 22-May-2009 12:58 | XLerate | Added |
| 17-Dec-2010 13:03 | TB | Updated [Aircraft type, Cn, Other fatalities, Nature, Damage] |
| 03-Mar-2017 00:41 | angels one five | Updated [Time, Operator, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Other fatalities, Location, Phase, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 03-Mar-2017 00:57 | angels one five | Updated [Source, Narrative] |
| 15-Oct-2021 23:29 | Ron Averes | Updated [Aircraft type, Location, Source] |
| 07-Feb-2022 00:27 | Ron Averes | Updated [Aircraft type] |
| 27-Feb-2022 04:43 | Ron Averes | Updated [Nature] |
| 09-Oct-2022 23:41 | angels one five | Updated [Location, Nature] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation