ZK-EMI

On March 21, 1984 at 07:05 AM, ZK-EMI experienced a crash involving Fletcher FU-24, operated by Private New Zealand, with the event recorded near Waimate Canterbury Regional Council.

The flight was categorized as spraying (agricultural) and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

2 people were known to be on board, 1 fatalities were recorded, 1 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 50.0%.

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

The listed crash cause is human factor. The single engine airplane departed Waimate Airport, bound to a local farm for a crop spraying mission, carrying one passenger and one pilot. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing to an altitude of about 300-400 feet, the aircraft entered a stratus area when the engine apparently lost power. The aircraft entered a nose-down attitude then crashed in the Waihao River. The passenger was killed and the pilot was seriously injured. The aircraft was totally destroyed.

Aircraft reference details include registration ZK-EMI, MSN 260, year of manufacture 1979.