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.
You can contribute by submitting additional or updated information.
| Date: | Tuesday 21 November 1961 |
| Time: | day |
| Type: |  Aero Commander 680 Super |
| Owner/operator: | Bay of Plenty Airways |
| Registration: | ZK-BWA |
| MSN: | 437-109 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 5040 hours |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 6 / Occupants: 6 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Mt Ruapehu, Tongariro NP -
 New Zealand
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Passenger - Scheduled |
| Departure airport: | Wellington NZWN |
| Rotorua NZRO | |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources |
As the Aero Commander flew over Mt Ruapehu air turbulence caused an existing fatigue crack in a wing spar cap to propagate suddenly to a point where the spar failed, and the wing separated from the airframe. The aircraft crashed on the mountainside, 7,500 feet AMSL.
The pilot and his 5 passengers all died in the crash.
Sources:
http://www.rotoruadailypost.co.nz/news/crash-questions-after-50-years/1180267/
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 07-Nov-2008 22:12 | angels one five | Added |
| 04-Dec-2008 21:21 | angels one five | Updated |
| 10-Dec-2008 21:04 | FunnyBones | Updated |
| 29-Mar-2010 00:39 | angels one five | Updated [Narrative, ] |
| 12-Dec-2011 04:08 | angels one five | Updated [Cn, Operator, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, ] |
| 15-Dec-2016 10:41 | angels one five | Updated [Narrative, ] |
| 08-Aug-2020 02:30 | Ron Averes | Updated [Time, Location, ] |
| 06-Oct-2021 03:46 | Ron Averes | Updated [Location, ] |
| 02-Feb-2022 02:03 | Ron Averes | Updated [Location, ] |
| 08-Feb-2022 20:47 | Ron Averes | Updated [Aircraft type, ] |
| 08-Feb-2022 20:50 | Ron Averes | Updated [Aircraft type, ] |
| 05-Nov-2023 10:02 | harro | Updated |
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:
©2025 Flight Safety Foundation