ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 61425
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| Date: | Tuesday 11 July 1978 |
| Time: | 18:00 approx |
| Type: |  Piper PA-28-181 Archer II |
| Owner/operator: | Auckland Aero Club |
| Registration: | ZK-EKQ |
| MSN: | 28-7690206 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 3 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | Awhitu, Auckland -
 New Zealand
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Passenger - Non-Scheduled/charter/Air Taxi |
| Departure airport: | WAG, NZWU |
| AKL,NZAA | |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information verified through data from accident investigation authorities |
pilot Brian Shenkin. After refueling and receiving an adverse weather report at Wanganui, the pilot decided to continue to planned destination Ardmore Airport (AMZ,NZAR) near Auckland. Shortly after takeoff it became apparent worsening conditions and lowering cloud ceiling necessitated landing. After several aborted attempts to land at New Plymouth (NPL, NZNP) due to 25 knot cross winds, a decision was made to attempt a landing at Taupo (TUO, NZAP). After becoming 'disoriented' the pilot found himself back on the coast and was instructed by Air Traffic Control to proceed to Auckland International Airport. This may be what the pilot desired. Battling headwinds of 60 to 70 knots and encroaching dark (pilot was only VFR rated) The pilot was instructed to follow the white of the breaking surf and watch for a lighthouse marking the entrance to Manakau Harbor. Fuel was very low. Upon sighting the lighthouse the Pilot was instructed to change heading for Auckland Airport. However the Pilot did not know the lighthouse was 1 km short of the Harbor entrance nor did he account for the severe crosswind pushing the plane of course. While attempting to apply course corrections from the Tower the plane was blown over very rugged and steep terrain. Extreme turbulence caused the Pilot to lose control of the Aircraft. The right wingtip grazed the top of a 1000 ft ridge separating it from the aircraft. The plane hit a fence then nose dived into the ground, flipped and slid into a gully. The pilot was killed instantly, the front passenger seriously wounded and myself, the rear passenger, was moderately wounded.
Sources:
1. http://archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewEntity.do?code=7333
2. David Shenkin, survivor.
3. AHSNZ, 1977, Register Review 4.
4. AHSNZ, 1978, Newsletter 5.
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 22-May-2009 12:58 | XLerate | Added |
| 28-Nov-2012 04:19 | Kiwid | Updated [Time, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Location, Phase, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Embed code, Damage, Narrative] |
| 30-Jan-2022 02:34 | Ron Averes | Updated [Aircraft type, Cn, Operator, Source] |
| 16-Feb-2022 20:10 | Ron Averes | Updated [Location] |
| 22-Feb-2022 11:28 | Ron Averes | Updated [Other fatalities, Location, Source] |
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