Taupo - Taupo

On January 7, 2015 at 12:16 PM, Taupo - Taupo experienced a crash involving PAC 750XL - Pacific Aerospace Corporation, operated by Skydive Taupo, with the event recorded near Taupo Waikato Regional Council.

The flight was categorized as skydiving / paratroopers and the reported phase was flight at a lake, sea, ocean, river crash site.

13 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 13 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 12, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. On 7 January 2015 a Pacific Aerospace Limited 750XL aeroplane was being used for tandem parachuting (or ‘skydiving’) operations at Taupo aerodrome. During the climb on the fourth flight of the day, the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34 engine failed suddenly. The 12 parachutists and the pilot baled out of the aeroplane and landed without serious injury. The aeroplane crashed into Lake Taupo and was destroyed.

Aircraft reference details include registration ZK-SDT, MSN 122, year of manufacture 2005.