Wigram - Wigram

On October 15, 1953 at 03:55 PM, Wigram - Wigram experienced a crash involving De Havilland DH.104 Dove, operated by Royal New Zealand Air Force - RNZAF, with the event recorded near Wigram AFB (Christchurch) Canterbury Regional Council.

The flight was categorized as demonstration and the reported phase was flight at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

4 people were known to be on board, 4 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: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The crew was taking part to the celebrations of the London - Christchurch Rallye anniversary. Two RNZAF Devon's registered NZ1810 and NZ1811 were engaged in a demonstration at Wigram Airbase. While approaching the airfield from the south at an altitude of 1,200 feet, both aircraft collided with their wings (it appears that the right wing of NZ1810 touched the left wing of NZ1811). Out of control, both airplanes dove into the ground and crashed in a paddock located about 700 meters from the airbase and were totally destroyed. All seven crew members on both aircraft were killed. Crew on board NZ1810: F/Lt Edwin Pattison Booth Ebbett, pilot, A1c Brian James Keogh, A1c Eric Melrose. Crew on board NZ1811: S/L Sholto Russell Duncan, pilot, A1c William Henry Sharman, A2c Russell Woodcock, Lt Erling William Ziesler.

Aircraft reference details include registration NZ1811, MSN 04321, year of manufacture 1952.