Whenuapai – Tauranga
Flight / Schedule
Whenuapai – Tauranga
Aircraft
Douglas DC-3Registration
ZK-AYZ
MSN
15204/26649
Year of Manufacture
1944
Operator
New Zealand National AirwaysDate
July 3, 1963 at 09:09 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Mountains
Crash Location
Mt Ngatamahinerua Waikato Regional Council
Region
Oceania • New Zealand
Crash Cause
Weather
Narrative Report
On July 3, 1963 at 09:09 AM, Whenuapai – Tauranga experienced a crash involving Douglas DC-3, operated by New Zealand National Airways, with the event recorded near Mt Ngatamahinerua Waikato Regional Council.
The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was flight at a mountains crash site.
23 people were known to be on board, 23 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.
Crew on board: 3, crew fatalities: 3, passengers on board: 20, passenger fatalities: 20, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is weather. While descending to Tauranga Airport in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft struck the slope of Mt Ngatamahinerua located 30 km west of Tauranga Airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all 23 occupants were killed.
Aircraft reference details include registration ZK-AYZ, MSN 15204/26649, year of manufacture 1944.
Fatalities
Total
23
Crew
3
Passengers
20
Other
0
Crash Summary
While descending to Tauranga Airport in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft struck the slope of Mt Ngatamahinerua located 30 km west of Tauranga Airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all 23 occupants were killed.
Cause: Weather
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
3
Passengers On Board
20
Estimated Survivors
0
Fatality Rate
100.0%
Known people on board: 23
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Whenuapai – Tauranga
Operator
New Zealand National AirwaysFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Mountains
Region / Country
Oceania • New Zealand