Whangarei - Whangarei

On September 29, 1957 at 03:15 PM, Whangarei - Whangarei experienced a crash involving Waco UIC, operated by Northland Districts Aero Club, with the event recorded near Whangarei Northland Regional Council.

The flight was categorized as charter/taxi (non scheduled revenue flight) and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a lake, sea, ocean, river crash site.

5 people were known to be on board, 1 fatalities were recorded, 4 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 20.0%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 4, passenger fatalities: 1, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. The airplane was engaged in a local sightseeing flight over the region of Whangarei, carrying one pilot, two adults, a mother and her one year-old baby. After takeoff, while climbing to a height of 300 feet, the engine failed. The pilot made a turn to the left, reduced his altitude and decided to return to the airport. He elected several times to restart the engine but without success. Eventually, he was forced to ditch the aircraft that crashed into the Whangarei harbor. The pilot evacuated the cabin and was able to assist both adults and the baby but unfortunately, the woman was trapped and could not be saved. The aircraft was lost.

Aircraft reference details include registration ZK-ALG, MSN 3820.