NZ air accidents

[Sqwark2000]

2 incidents with 12hrs of each other and very little reported.

First a light plane with 3 on board crashed at Fox Glacier airfield. All survived, 2 pax with just scratches and the pilot with punctured lung. Was in CHCH Hospital last night in the ED visiting, the pilot was in the ED. Word from the emergency service people involved (was visiting a colleague of theirs, and heard a few tidbits of info) was that the pilot thought they were landing at Franz Joseph Airfield, some 20km to the south, realised they didn't have enough room to land, went around, but couldn't outclimb the trees at the far end and ended upside down at the crash site. Not sure of a/c type but was mentioned that the gear was retracted

Second incident - TV3 reported on the late news of a Twin Aztec doing an emergency landing at Pamlerston North after the gear failed to extend. Was on flight from Napier to Wellington and diverted to Palmy. I'm guessing it was a Sunair Aztec on the scheduled freight run. Not sure if the emergency landing was a wheels up or a declared emerg with manual extension and safe landing.

Anyone else with info??


S2K

[Hanz Blix]

Gear not extending in an Aztec Seems strange unless the gear handle broke off.

[empacher48]

Not sure of a/c type but was mentioned that the gear was retracted

It was a C177.

[Corkey McFuz]

First a light plane with 3 on board crashed at Fox Glacier airfield. All survived, 2 pax with just scratches and the pilot with punctured lung. Was in CHCH Hospital last night in the ED visiting, the pilot was in the ED. Word from the emergency service people involved (was visiting a colleague of theirs, and heard a few tidbits of info) was that the pilot thought they were landing at Franz Joseph Airfield, some 20km to the south, realised they didn't have enough room to land, went around, but couldn't outclimb the trees at the far end and ended upside down at the crash site. Not sure of a/c type but was mentioned that the gear was retracted

Franz is north of Fox. It's interesting how many people confuse the two airfields. It is pretty darn busy at both airfields especially at Fox where there are 4 helicopter operators operating in very close proximity to the airstrip. If you're not totally sure of your position it's probably a good idea to stay well out of there and on the coast,- as most do. It is not a very good airstrip to mess up on with very limited go around possibilities, but I guess they found that out the hard way. Those dirty great big mountains at the eastern end are a pretty good giveaway though...

Hope they make a fully and speedy recovery

BTW was supposedly a Cardinal RG.

[Dog Tucker]

Looks like they may have hit wires.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/thepress/4682278a6009.html

[Sqwark2004]

Hey S2k,

I can assure you that it won't be the first time a Sunair Aztec had the gear handle snap off.

I seem to recall back in 2004 when it happened twice. They were meant to have been replaced by re-enforced handles. . .

S2k4

[philipnz]

and in 2006
http://www.taic.org.nz/AviationRepor....aspx?SkinSrc=[G]skins%2ftaicAviation%2fskin_aviation

[TinDriver]

Palmy.....

ATC reported that a nosewheel had collapsed.......at least one aircraft held overhead whilst the runway was being cleared..........

[Hanz Blix]

Nose wheel has also collapsed before ZK-DIR from memory Although the jury is still out on that one