Christchurch – Milford Sound
Flight / Schedule
Christchurch – Milford Sound
Aircraft
De Havilland DH.90 DragonflyRegistration
ZK-AFB
MSN
7560
Operator
Air Charter - New ZealandDate
February 12, 1962 at 12:00 AM
Type
CRASHFlight 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
Operator
Air Charter - New ZealandFlight Type
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Flight Phase
Flight
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.
