Christchurch – Milford Sound

The twin engine departed Christchurch Airport at 09h52 on a sightseeing flight to Milford Sound with four tourists and one pilot on board. The ETA at Milford Sound was schedules at 1237LT. As the aircraft failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the airplane nor the five occupants was found. Crew: Brian Geoffrey Chadwic. Passengers: Darrell Stanley Sheils, Louis Rowan, Elwyn Saville, Valerie Gay Saville.

Flight / Schedule

Christchurch – Milford Sound

Registration

ZK-AFB

MSN

7560

Date

February 12, 1962 at 12:00 AM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Mountains

Crash Location

New Zealand All New Zealand

Region

Oceania • New Zealand

Narrative Report

On February 12, 1962 at 12:00 AM, Christchurch – Milford Sound experienced a crash involving De Havilland DH.90 Dragonfly, operated by Air Charter - New Zealand, with the event recorded near New Zealand All New Zealand.

The flight was categorized as charter/taxi (non scheduled revenue flight) and the reported phase was flight 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: 1, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 4, passenger fatalities: 4, other fatalities: 0.

The twin engine departed Christchurch Airport at 09h52 on a sightseeing flight to Milford Sound with four tourists and one pilot on board. The ETA at Milford Sound was schedules at 1237LT. As the aircraft failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the airplane nor the five occupants was found. Crew: Brian Geoffrey Chadwic. Passengers: Darrell Stanley Sheils, Louis Rowan, Elwyn Saville, Valerie Gay Saville.

Aircraft reference details include registration ZK-AFB, MSN 7560.

Fatalities

Total

5

Crew

1

Passengers

4

Other

0

Crash Summary

The twin engine departed Christchurch Airport at 09h52 on a sightseeing flight to Milford Sound with four tourists and one pilot on board. The ETA at Milford Sound was schedules at 1237LT. As the aircraft failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the airplane nor the five occupants was found. Crew: Brian Geoffrey Chadwic. Passengers: Darrell Stanley Sheils, Louis Rowan, Elwyn Saville, Valerie Gay Saville.

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

1

Passengers On Board

4

Estimated Survivors

0

Fatality Rate

100.0%

Known people on board: 5

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Christchurch – Milford Sound

Flight Type

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Mountains

Region / Country

Oceania • New Zealand

Aircraft Details

Registration

ZK-AFB

MSN

7560

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