Fox Glacier - Fox Glacier

On September 4, 2010 at 01:27 PM, Fox Glacier - Fox Glacier experienced a crash involving Fletcher FU-24, operated by Skydive New Zealand, with the event recorded near Fox Glacier West Coast Regional Council.

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

9 people were known to be on board, 9 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: 8, passenger fatalities: 8, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. Shortly after take off from Fox Glacier aerodrome, while climbing, aircraft stalled and crashed in flames in a paddock near the airfield. All nine occupants, the pilot and 8 skydivers, were killed. The new owner and operator of the aeroplane had not completed any weight and balance calculations on the aeroplane before it entered service, nor at any time before the accident. As a result the aeroplane was being flown outside its loading limits every time it carried a full load of 8 parachutists. On the accident flight the centre of gravity of the aeroplane was well rear of its aft limit and it became airborne at too low a speed to be controllable. The pilot was unable to regain control and the aeroplane continued to pitch up, then rolled left before striking the ground nearly vertically.

Aircraft reference details include registration ZK-EUF, MSN 281, year of manufacture 1981.