Wellington - Picton

On January 29, 1996 at 04:27 PM, Wellington - Picton experienced a crash involving Cessna 208A Caravan, operated by Soundsair, with the event recorded near Picton-Koromiko Marlborough District Council.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

6 people were known to be on board, 5 fatalities were recorded, 1 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 83.3%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 5, passenger fatalities: 5, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. Following an uneventful flight from Wellington, the pilot started the descent to Picton-Koromiko Airport in good weather conditions. On final, at an altitude of 1,700 feet, the single engine aircraft entered clouds and struck the slope of Mt Robertson located 10 nm northeast of Blenheim. All five occupants were killed and the pilot was seriously injured.

Aircraft reference details include registration ZK-SFA, MSN 208-0051, year of manufacture 1985.