The 4th December Incident
 

Hi,

I was watching a Youtube video on the Erebus Tragedy, and there was mention of post-Erebus the "4th December Incident" involving a Air New Zealand flight Auckland to Rarotonga which due to computer error had given an incorrect loading of fuel, and consequently the aircraft would not have reached its destination.

Reference to the "4th December Incident" occurs on the video on Youtube at 49 minutes here is the link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yP36X0BsMQ0

The video is worth watching anyway in full!!!

If anyone has information on this, please post!!

Best Regards

Tim Gorman

Re the Mount Erebus accident.
Such a sad event. A stunning example of swiss cheese holes lining up.
I have read the book Gordon Vette wrote, and the Royal Commission report from Justice Mahon some years ago. I must say what impressed me was the courage and integrity of both Captain Vette and Justice Mahon in their determination to see the accident finding reviewed.
So many people had their lives changed by this.

Also worth a look is the documentary on the operation to recover the passengers, i think it was on SBS a while back.
This team did a remarkable job, in very difficult conditions!

Home | Erebus Operation Overdue or google Operation Overdue

This (above) link is for the website a production company in NZ made of the recovery of the Bodies of the people from TE901 wreckage, there is a DVD available thru the website.

(NB I in no way are promoting this on PPRUNE, but it is a very important story that was part of the accident.)

I personally have the DVD and the Docu-Drama is regularly on NZ television.
I have watched it several dozen times and it is ALWAYS an amazing story.

Best Regards

Tim Gorman

The documentary about the recovery of TE901 is one of the most moving things I've ever seen on television. Anyone with a love of aviation and humanity cannot help but be moved. Watch it if you ever have the opportunity. :ok:

Folks,
Not quite the full story.

There had been a number of very near misses (including QF at Rangoon) with actual fuel remaining being much less than expected.

To cut a long story short, this resulted in the introduction of "fixed final reserve" by ICAO, the fuel that must be in the tanks at the end of the landing roll.

See the revise CASA CAAP now out for consultation, CASA still don't "get" fixed final reserve.

Tootle pip!!