NZ4634
Flight / Schedule
NZ4634
Aircraft
Lockheed PV-1 VenturaRegistration
NZ4634
MSN
6396
Operator
Royal New Zealand Air Force - RNZAFDate
December 20, 1944 at 12:00 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Supply
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Mountains
Crash Location
Bougainville Island Autonomous Region of Bougainville
Region
Oceania • Papua New Guinea
Coordinates
-6.1441°, 155.2059°
Crash Cause
Human factor
Narrative Report
On December 20, 1944 at 12:00 AM, NZ4634 experienced a crash involving Lockheed PV-1 Ventura, operated by Royal New Zealand Air Force - RNZAF, with the event recorded near Bougainville Island Autonomous Region of Bougainville.
The flight was categorized as supply and the reported phase was flight at a mountains 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: 5, crew fatalities: 4, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is human factor. The crew was involved in a supply mission. After some of the load was dropped, while flying in a valley, the pilot increased power on both engines to leave the valley but the aircraft hit the ridge of a mountain and crashed. Four crew members were killed while the fifth occupant was seriously injured. Crew (1st Squadron): F/Sgt N. Gardiner, F/Lt Dennis Hobbs, † F/Lt Robert Scarlett, † W/O Stanley Nuttall, † F/Sgt Fred Murphy. †
Aircraft reference details include registration NZ4634, MSN 6396.
Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately -6.1441°, 155.2059°.
Fatalities
Total
4
Crew
4
Passengers
0
Other
0
Crash Summary
The crew was involved in a supply mission. After some of the load was dropped, while flying in a valley, the pilot increased power on both engines to leave the valley but the aircraft hit the ridge of a mountain and crashed. Four crew members were killed while the fifth occupant was seriously injured. Crew (1st Squadron): F/Sgt N. Gardiner, F/Lt Dennis Hobbs, † F/Lt Robert Scarlett, † W/O Stanley Nuttall, † F/Sgt Fred Murphy. †
Cause: Human factor
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
5
Passengers On Board
0
Estimated Survivors
1
Fatality Rate
80.0%
Known people on board: 5
Operational Details
Operator
Royal New Zealand Air Force - RNZAFFlight Type
Supply
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Mountains
Region / Country
Oceania • Papua New Guinea
Aircraft Details
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