Ohakea - Ohakea

On August 28, 1943 at 11:30 AM, Ohakea - Ohakea experienced a crash involving Lockheed L-414 Hudson, operated by Royal New Zealand Air Force - RNZAF, with the event recorded near Tangimoana Manawatu-Wanganui (Horizons Regional Council).

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

5 people were known to be on board, 5 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

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

The listed crash cause is human factor. The crew was performing a training flight from Ohakea AFB. While cruising off Tangimoana at low altitude, the crew had taken evasive action to avoid a collision with another aircraft taking part to the same exercise. During a steep turn, the aircraft entered a spin and dove into the sea three miles south of the Rangitikei River mouth. All five crew members were killed. Crew (1st OTU): F/Sgt William Marshall, P/O Harold Beard, Sgt William Plant, F/Sgt John Aubrey, Sgt Brian McSweeney.

Aircraft reference details include registration NZ2034, MSN 414-3857, year of manufacture 1941.