MM: In this particular case the now-decommissioned Ohakea PSR would not have helped any more than the Wellington PSR at Hawkins Hill. This radar can see down to near sea level in the PP area, as could the Ohakea PSR, which, as I recall, was very handy when trying to fly NDB approaches into PP.
Doesn't excuse the decommissioning of Ohakea PSR though - a short-sighted but expected decision from the Air Force bean counters, and certainly if the accident sequence had occurred much further north, may very well have been useful.
MrN: The SSR data disappeared from the screen as the Mode C read F145 in descent. The controller was looking right at it when it occurred. The primary only target then made a slight right turn toward the coast, then it disappeared. Not sure for how long the primary target was visible after the SSR data was lost.
There were no indications of anything untoward prior to the dropout of the SSR data. No non-normal transmissions were made by the crew.
It is not known at this time whether the aircraft entered a steep dive. Only a small portion of the wreckage has been recovered. The crew remain missing, as do the data recorders.