Nelson - Hokitika

On June 30, 1944 at 01:00 PM, Nelson - Hokitika experienced a crash involving De Havilland DH.84 Dragon, operated by Air Travel, with the event recorded near Mt Hope Tasman District Council.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was flight at a mountains crash site.

7 people were known to be on board, 2 fatalities were recorded, 5 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 28.6%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 6, passenger fatalities: 2, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is weather. While approaching the Mt Saddle at low height, the twin engine aircraft was caught by updraft and gained altitude. Shortly later, the aircraft stalled and dove into a wooded area located on the Mt Hope, in the Kahurangi National Park. Four passengers and the pilot Colin G. Lewis were rescued while two others occupants including Bert Mercer, founder of this operator, were killed. The other passenger killed was also an employee of Air Travel.

Aircraft reference details include registration ZK-AHT, MSN 6090, year of manufacture 1935.