Mechanics Bay - Mechanics Bay
Flight / Schedule
Mechanics Bay - Mechanics Bay
Aircraft
Grumman G-44 WidgeonRegistration
ZK-BAY
MSN
1362
Year of Manufacture
1944
Operator
Mount Cook AirlinesDate
December 24, 1970 at 07:44 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Cinematography
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Crash Location
Auckland Auckland Council
Region
Oceania • New Zealand
Coordinates
-36.7229°, 174.7083°
Crash Cause
Human factor
Narrative Report
On December 24, 1970 at 07:44 AM, Mechanics Bay - Mechanics Bay experienced a crash involving Grumman G-44 Widgeon, operated by Mount Cook Airlines, with the event recorded near Auckland Auckland Council.
The flight was categorized as cinematography and the reported phase was flight at a lake, sea, ocean, river 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: 1, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 3, passenger fatalities: 3, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is human factor. Pilot Roger Poole was taking a TV news crew of three to film a burning 8.5m launch near Browns Island. After circling the launch and landing nearby, the floatplane took off and circled to the right at low level. It straighten out as if to return to base at Mechanics Bay, but then banked steeply to the right, the turn becoming near vertical. The nose dropped and it crashed into the sea, killing all four aboard.
Aircraft reference details include registration ZK-BAY, MSN 1362, year of manufacture 1944.
Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately -36.7229°, 174.7083°.
Fatalities
Total
4
Crew
1
Passengers
3
Other
0
Crash Summary
Pilot Roger Poole was taking a TV news crew of three to film a burning 8.5m launch near Browns Island. After circling the launch and landing nearby, the floatplane took off and circled to the right at low level. It straighten out as if to return to base at Mechanics Bay, but then banked steeply to the right, the turn becoming near vertical. The nose dropped and it crashed into the sea, killing all four aboard.
Cause: Human factor
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
1
Passengers On Board
3
Estimated Survivors
0
Fatality Rate
100.0%
Known people on board: 4
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Mechanics Bay - Mechanics Bay
Operator
Mount Cook AirlinesFlight Type
Cinematography
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Region / Country
Oceania • New Zealand
Aircraft Details
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