New Plymouth - New Plymouth

On September 4, 1944 at 03:15 PM, New Plymouth - New Plymouth experienced a crash involving Avro 652 Anson, operated by Royal New Zealand Air Force - RNZAF, with the event recorded near Taranaki Taranaki Regional Council.

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

4 people were known to be on board, 2 fatalities were recorded, 2 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 50.0%.

Crew on board: 4, crew fatalities: 2, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The crew departed New Plymouth Airport at 1419LT on a navigation exercise. While cruising at an altitude of 1,200 feet, the twin engine aircraft went through a cloudy area over Mt Egmont (Mt Taranaki). Familiar with the area, the second pilot saw trees 200 feet below and took over the control to turn to the right to avoid any collision with the mountain. Unfortunately, the aircraft stalled, hit tree tops and crashed in a wooded area. F/Sgt Peterson was able to leave the crash site and walked for about seven miles to find help. On site, the rescuers were able to evacuate a second crew member alive while both other occupants were killed. Crew (SNR): F/Sgt John Paterson Cummins, pilot, † F/Sgt Maurice Roy Haycock, pilot, † Sgt B. F. A. Rough, navigator, F/Sgt A. F. Peterson, radio operator.

Aircraft reference details include registration NZ414.