ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 61234
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| Date: | Sunday 30 December 1979 |
| Time: | 19:21. |
| Type: |  Piper PA-28R-200 Arrow |
| Owner/operator: | Canterbury Aero Club |
| Registration: | ZK-DIU |
| MSN: | 28R-7335359 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 4 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | Taoroa, Whanganui 4 -
 New Zealand
|
| Phase: | Landing |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Palmerston North NZPM |
| Rotorua NZRO | |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information verified through data from accident investigation authorities |
The Cherokee was on a flight to Rotorua from Palmerston North.
At about Taihape low cloud was observed ahead, around Waiouru, and the pilot decided to turn back for Palmerston North.
After about five minutes the engine began to backfire and run roughly . Revs dropped from the normal cruising 2,450 rpm to about 1,700.
The pilot sent a Mayday call and advised that he would make a forced landing on an airstrip that he had in sight.
The aircraft was seen to make a long final approach to the Taoroa airstrip (6 nm east of Taihape) with the gear down and flaps fully extended.
The approach was high and fast and the plane touched down about half-way along the 585 metre wet stubble surface.
At an estimated speed of 30 mph the aircraft smashed through the boundary fence at the southern end of the strip and plunged over a steep bank, lofting into the air briefly before crashing in a nose down attitude. There was no fire.
The pilot sustained a head injury from which he died about 20 minutes later. The RH front seat occupant was rendered unconscious but came to within a few minutes.
The two back seat passengers were unhurt.
The crash investigation found that the loss of engine power was due to the failure of a valve head in the no.4 cylinder.
This was the second engine failure-related accident to befall this unlucky pilot.
Refer to the crash of Tri-Pacer ZK-BSC on 30.8.70.
Rex James Wahrlich.
R.I.P.
Sources:
1. http://archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewEntity.do?code=7333
2. AHSNZ, 1980, Newsletter 1.
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 22-May-2009 12:58 | XLerate | Added |
| 24-May-2011 03:25 | angels one five | Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Operator, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Other fatalities, Location, Phase, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Damage, Narrative] |
| 24-May-2011 21:55 | angels one five | Updated [Narrative] |
| 06-May-2012 11:35 | harro | Updated [Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Operator, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Narrative] |
| 16-May-2015 06:58 | mamoose | Updated [Narrative] |
| 30-Jan-2022 02:43 | Ron Averes | Updated [Aircraft type] |
| 30-Jan-2022 09:32 | Ron Averes | Updated [Cn] |
| 06-Feb-2022 01:28 | Ron Averes | Updated [Location, Narrative] |
| 14-Feb-2022 22:17 | Ron Averes | Updated [Location] |
| 23-Feb-2022 08:32 | Ron Averes | Updated [Source] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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