Royal New Zealand Air Force - RNZAF

De Havilland DH.104 Dove

While taxiing, the crew encountered technical problems with the braking systems. The captain decided to raise the landing gear when the aircraft sank on its belly and came to a halt. Both occupants were uninjured.

De Havilland DH.104 Dove

The airplane departed Queenstown Airport at 1320LT for a local training flight. En route, while flying a lot height, the airplane struck a hillside located in the region of Lindis Pass. All three crew members were killed.

De Havilland DH.104 Dove

The pilot, sole on board, was completing a local training flight at Wigram AFB. On final approach, an engine caught fire. The pilot lost control of the aircraft that stalled and crashed short of runway. While the pilot was uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver

The crew was completing a supply mission to Beardmore Glacier and elected to land in whiteout conditions when the airplane struck the icy ground and crashed. Both pilots were rescued five days later and the aircraft was abandoned in situ.

Short S.25 Sunderland

Under the command of F/Lt B. Dwyer, the aircraft struck an uncharted, submerged reef while taking-off from the Te Whanga Lagoon. The impact severely damaged the flying boat’s hull. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair and abandoned and later dismantled.

De Havilland DH.104 Dove

For unknown reason, the airplane landed hard and was considered as damaged beyond repair. There were no injuries among the crew. The accident occurred by night.

Bristol 170 Freighter

While flying at an altitude of 4,000 feet on a supply mission, the airplane hit trees and crashed in a dense wooded area. The aircraft was destroyed and eight occupants were killed. As the airplane failed to return to its base, SAR operations were conducted and the wreckage was spotted in the afternoon. Rescuers were dropped off about 2,000 yards from the crash site but poor weather conditions hampered attempts to reach the wreckage which was eventually reached after three days only. The survivor walked away and was found alive twelve days later.

De Havilland DH.104 Dove

After landing at Invercargill Airport, the twin engine aircraft encountered difficulties to stop, overran and came to rest into a ditch. Both pilots were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Handley Page H.P.67 Hastings

Shortly after takeoff from Darwin Airport, while climbing, the four engine aircraft suffered a bird strike. As an engine lost power, the aircraft stalled and crashed past the runway end. All 25 occupants were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

De Havilland DH.104 Dove

The crew was performing a training flight and left Ohakea Airbase at 0917LT. Apparently while returning and flying over the Taratua Forest Park in poor weather conditions, the twin engine airplane hit the slope of Mt Shingle Slip Knob at 1011LT. The wreckage was found three days later few meters below the summit and both crew members have been killed. It is believed the aircraft was off track at the time of the accident and the crew was unaware of the presence of the mountain due the lack of visibility. Crew: F/Lt Edward Casey, F/Lt William Trott.