Gisborne - Auckland

On February 17, 1979 at 02:35 PM, Gisborne - Auckland experienced a crash involving Fokker F27 Friendship, operated by Air New Zealand, with the event recorded near Auckland Auckland Council.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a lake, sea, ocean, river crash site.

4 people were known to be on board, 2 fatalities were recorded, 2 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 50.0%.

Crew on board: 2, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 2, passenger fatalities: 1, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. On final approach to Auckland-Ardmore Airport, the aircraft's speed increased from 165 to 211 knots. The pilot-in-command (first officer) completed a last turn to join the runway 05 but was unable to locate it due to heavy showers. Too low, the airplane struck water surface and crashed in shallow water 1,025 meters short of runway 05 threshold. A pilot and a passenger were killed while two other occupants were injured.

Aircraft reference details include registration ZK-NFC, MSN 10456, year of manufacture 1971.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately -36.7229°, 174.7083°.