Wigram - Wigram

On August 14, 1944 at 04:30 PM, Wigram - Wigram experienced a crash involving Airspeed AS.10 Oxford, operated by Royal New Zealand Air Force - RNZAF, with the event recorded near Wigram AFB (Christchurch) Canterbury Regional Council.

The flight was categorized as training and the reported phase was flight at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

1 people were known to be on board, 1 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: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The pilot was performing a solo training flight in the region of Wigram AFB. While circling around the airbase, the twin engine aircraft collided with another RNZAF Oxford registered NZ1284 and carrying one pilot as well. Following the collision, both aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a field located 3 km southeast of the airfield. Both pilots on both aircraft were killed. Crew: Sgt Robert Pettitt, pilot.

Aircraft reference details include registration NZ286, MSN 509.