ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 62071
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: | Monday 25 March 1974 |
| Time: | 08:02 |
| Type: |  APNZ Fletcher FU-24 |
| Owner/operator: | Thames Aerial Topdressing Co Ltd |
| Registration: | ZK-BVB |
| MSN: | 67 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | Pukekohe East, Auckland -
 New Zealand
|
| Phase: | Approach |
| Nature: | Agricultural |
| Departure airport: | Farm airstrip |
| Farm airstrip | |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information verified through data from accident investigation authorities |
Pilot James Richard Aitcheson. R.I.P.
The pilot had flown from the farm earlier in the morning before going away for about two hours and then returning.
At about 08:00 the property owner saw the plane approaching and making a low run over the airstrip apparently in order to frighten away some cattle obstructing the landing area.. The owner, a pilot himself, had experienced a similar situation before and went move the stock out of the way. He had lost sight of the aircraft for a brief period when he heard a bang and then the plane came back into view, rolling to starboard until inverted, and diving vertically into a hillside and exploding.
Ground evidence showed that the Fletcher had struck with its right wing tip a 400 pound ( 180 kg ) cattle beast, killing the animal and dislodging the metal wing tip fairing which was found nearby with its leading edge crushed. Starting a few metres further on a 46 metre long scrape mark was visible on the surface having been made by the exposed end of the outer wing.
The aircraft then collided with the corner of a hangar, the outboard end of the right wing contacting the building about 2.5 metres above ground level and 1 metre below the top. This impact caused the separation of the right outer wing panel. The plane, now out of control, cleared the top of another hangar and adjacent tall trees before diving into a hillside, exploding in flames and breaking up as it tumbled down the slope.
The investigator found that control was lost with the separation of the outer wing wing panel on impact with the hangar. Aileron control had survived the collision with the animal.
Factors that may have contributed to the accident were the altitude and azimuth of the morning sun which may have dazzled the pilot and the possibility that the aircraft was affected by its own wake turbulence created by the first low run down the airstrip.
Sources:
1. http://archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewEntity.do?code=7333
2. Aircraft Accident Report No. 74-034
3. New Zealand Wings, Dec 1974.
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 22-May-2009 12:58 | XLerate | Added |
| 22-Aug-2009 06:46 | flyernzl | Updated |
| 01-Feb-2017 03:27 | angels one five | Updated [Time, Cn, Operator, Location, Nature, Destination airport, Source, Damage, Narrative] |
| 05-Oct-2021 09:56 | Ron Averes | Updated [Location, Departure airport, Source] |
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