Woodbourne - Whenuapai
Flight / Schedule
Woodbourne - Whenuapai
Aircraft
Bristol 170 FreighterRegistration
NZ5908
MSN
13061
Year of Manufacture
1952
Operator
Royal New Zealand Air Force - RNZAFDate
May 27, 1953 at 08:59 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Military
Flight Phase
Takeoff (climb)
Crash Site
Mountains
Crash Location
Blenheim Marlborough District Council
Region
Oceania • New Zealand
Crash Cause
Human factor
Narrative Report
On May 27, 1953 at 08:59 AM, Woodbourne - Whenuapai experienced a crash involving Bristol 170 Freighter, operated by Royal New Zealand Air Force - RNZAF, with the event recorded near Blenheim Marlborough District Council.
The flight was categorized as military and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a mountains crash site.
5 people were known to be on board, 5 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.
Crew on board: 4, crew fatalities: 4, passengers on board: 1, passenger fatalities: 1, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is human factor. Shortly after takeoff from runway 06 at Woodbourne AFB in Blenheim, while climbing, the pilot-in-command made a turn to right when the aircraft entered clouds. Six minutes later, the twin engine airplane hit the slope of a mountain located near Taylor Pass, about 12 km southeast of the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and all five crew members were killed. Crew: Cpt Richard Webb, F/Lt James Brookes, F/Sgt Phillip Diebert, Sgt John Collins, Sgt Thomas Dean.
Aircraft reference details include registration NZ5908, MSN 13061, year of manufacture 1952.
Fatalities
Total
5
Crew
4
Passengers
1
Other
0
Crash Summary
Shortly after takeoff from runway 06 at Woodbourne AFB in Blenheim, while climbing, the pilot-in-command made a turn to right when the aircraft entered clouds. Six minutes later, the twin engine airplane hit the slope of a mountain located near Taylor Pass, about 12 km southeast of the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and all five crew members were killed. Crew: Cpt Richard Webb, F/Lt James Brookes, F/Sgt Phillip Diebert, Sgt John Collins, Sgt Thomas Dean.
Cause: Human factor
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
4
Passengers On Board
1
Estimated Survivors
0
Fatality Rate
100.0%
Known people on board: 5
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Woodbourne - Whenuapai
Operator
Royal New Zealand Air Force - RNZAFFlight Type
Military
Flight Phase
Takeoff (climb)
Crash Site
Mountains
Region / Country
Oceania • New Zealand
Aircraft Details
Similar Plane Crashes
Walsh Brother's Flying School
Avro 504
The pilot was performing a sightseeing flight around New Plymouth. While approaching to land, the aircraft stalled and crashed near the aerodrome. All three occupants were killed. Crew: Captain Richard Russell, pilot Passengers: James Clarke, mayor of New Plymouth, Kathleen Warnock.
Canterbury Aviation
Avro 504
The pilot H. C. Grout was performing some demo flights in the region of Blenheim. After a stop in Kaikoura, he was positioning to his base in Christchurch. En route, the engine failed and he was forced to attempt an emergency landing. At low height, the airplane stalled and crashed in a wheat field near Motunau. Seriously injured, the pilot was evacuated to a local hospital but died from his injuries in the evening. The aircraft was destroyed.
Canterbury Aviation
Avro 504
Crashed in unknown circumstances near Wigram AFB. There were no casualties.
K. W. J. Hall
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
The single engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in Waikari, north of Christchurch. The pilot and owner K. W. J. Hall was unhurt.
Aerial Services New Zealand
Dornier DO.12 Libelle
The crew was performing a local test flight out of Auckland when the engine misfired on approach. The seaplane stalled and crashed in the Mechanics Bay, off Milford Beach. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed. Crew: Don Harkness, pilot. Passenger: Charles Goldsbro.
Bryant House Airways
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Captain A. W. Saunders was performing demo flights on the racecourse of Te Awamutu. With his passenger Alfred W. Minchin, he climbed to a height of 1,000 feet when the plane was seen to enter a spin. The spin was recovered from about 50 feet and the Moth was still diving when it impacted the ground. Both occupants were seriously injured and evacuated to the local hospital. While the passenger died from his injuries in the evening, the pilot died the following day. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces.