Hokitika – Greymouth – Westport – Nelson

On December 21, 1942 at 10:15 AM, Hokitika – Greymouth – Westport – Nelson experienced a crash involving De Havilland DH.90 Dragonfly, operated by Air Travel, with the event recorded near Westport West Coast Regional Council.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was flight at a lake, sea, ocean, river crash site.

5 people were known to be on board, 4 fatalities were recorded, 1 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 80.0%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 4, passenger fatalities: 4, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. Shortly after take off from Westport Airport, while climbing to an altitude of 4,000 feet, the propeller blades detached from the right engine. The pilot increased power on left engine and attempted to return to Westport. Unfortunately, shortly later, the aircraft stalled and crashed into the sea 7 km off shore. All four passengers drowned while the pilot was injured. The propeller blades were found on a beach in March 1943. Crew: Arthur C. Baines.

Aircraft reference details include registration ZK-AGP, MSN 7566, year of manufacture 1937.