Narrative:
Bristol 170 NZ5908 operated served with RNZAF 41 Sqn. On May 27, 1953 it operated on the regular transport supply run from Whenuapai Air Base to Ohakea-Royal AFB (OHA), Blenheim-Woodbourne (BHE) and Wigram Air Base.
Group Captain R. Webb who was the commanding officer at Whenuapai also boarded the flight. He was not a qualified pilot on the Bristol 170 transport plane. On the return leg from Blenheim to Whenuapai he was at the controls in the left hand seat. The captain of the flight occupied the right hand seat and the navigator thus also had to move to a different position on the flight deck. The flight took off at 08:53 on an instrument departure to the east and soon entered clouds. Instead of continuing on runway heading until over Cook Strait, the airplane soon turned right towards high ground. The navigation instrument were not tuned into the correct beacon (Blenheim NDB). Six minutes after takeoff the airplane collided with Taylors Pass.
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Mountain
» King, John (1995). Aviation Accidents and Disasters. New Zealand Tragedies. Wellington: Grantham House. pp. 77-78. ISBN 1 86934 042 6
» Ministry of Defence Accident File 25/2/2634
accident date: 27-05-1953
type: Bristol 170 Freighter 31M
registration: NZ5908
| Status: | |
| Date: | Wednesday 27 May 1953 |
| Time: | 08:59 |
| Type: |  Bristol 170 Freighter 31M |
| Operator: | Royal New Zealand Air Force - RNZAF |
| Registration: | NZ5908 |
| MSN: | 13061 |
| First flight: | 1952 |
| Engines: | 2 Bristol Hercules 734 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 4 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 5 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | 11 km (6.9 mls) SSE of Blenheim-Woodbourne Airport (BHE) ( New Zealand)
|
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | Blenheim-Woodbourne Airport (BHE/NZWB), New Zealand |
| Whenuapai Air Base (NZWP), New Zealand |
Bristol 170 NZ5908 operated served with RNZAF 41 Sqn. On May 27, 1953 it operated on the regular transport supply run from Whenuapai Air Base to Ohakea-Royal AFB (OHA), Blenheim-Woodbourne (BHE) and Wigram Air Base.
Group Captain R. Webb who was the commanding officer at Whenuapai also boarded the flight. He was not a qualified pilot on the Bristol 170 transport plane. On the return leg from Blenheim to Whenuapai he was at the controls in the left hand seat. The captain of the flight occupied the right hand seat and the navigator thus also had to move to a different position on the flight deck. The flight took off at 08:53 on an instrument departure to the east and soon entered clouds. Instead of continuing on runway heading until over Cook Strait, the airplane soon turned right towards high ground. The navigation instrument were not tuned into the correct beacon (Blenheim NDB). Six minutes after takeoff the airplane collided with Taylors Pass.
Classification:
Flightcrew un(der)qualifiedControlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Mountain
Sources:
» Ralph Simpson» King, John (1995). Aviation Accidents and Disasters. New Zealand Tragedies. Wellington: Grantham House. pp. 77-78. ISBN 1 86934 042 6
» Ministry of Defence Accident File 25/2/2634
Photos
accident date: 27-05-1953
type: Bristol 170 Freighter 31M
registration: NZ5908
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 Blenheim-Woodbourne Airport to Whenuapai Air Base as the crow flies is 529 km (330 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
Distance from Blenheim-Woodbourne Airport to Whenuapai Air Base as the crow flies is 529 km (330 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.
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