Diamond DA42 Down in New Zealand
Thread Starter
Diamond DA42 Down in New Zealand
Police confirm two deceased, apparently experienced instructors from Ardmore Flying School. Aircraft down in Kaimanawa Ranges. After an overnight search for the missing aircraft, which was reported missing last night at about 22:00, the wreckage was found this morning in steep terrain. The aircraft was last seen on radar about 22 nautical miles SSE of Taupo on a flight from Palmerston North to Ardmore Airport.
R.I.P. Souls on Board.
R.I.P. Souls on Board.
Thread Starter
It seems there is only one DA42 at Ardmore Flying School. It was imported as N422DK and originally NZ registered as ZK-DAX. It was later changed to ZK-EAN.
Last edited by 462; 24th Mar 2019 at 08:03.
Thread Starter
A Little more information from various news sources:
The pilots were on a regular flight as part of the requirement to gain flying hours towards a higher qualification.
A rescue helicopter was mobilised last night and tried to reach the last-known location of the plane, 24km east of Tūrangi, but had to turn back because of low cloud and drizzle. The crash site was said to be in steep, high country. There was more low cloud and drizzle this morning and the rescue team was waiting for conditions to improve earlier before they could get in the air.
The pilots were on a regular flight as part of the requirement to gain flying hours towards a higher qualification.
A rescue helicopter was mobilised last night and tried to reach the last-known location of the plane, 24km east of Tūrangi, but had to turn back because of low cloud and drizzle. The crash site was said to be in steep, high country. There was more low cloud and drizzle this morning and the rescue team was waiting for conditions to improve earlier before they could get in the air.
Thread Starter
It seems that they might have been in contact with Airways - the Wings over NZ Aviation Forum have posted that the alarm was first raised by Airways at 10.30pm on Saturday.
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Where does it say they weren't IFR? I'm not saying they were just that media information I have seen hasn't made mention of it - One would suspect with that weather, over that terrain, in the evening, in an IFR twin, they would've been. Not need to start doubting the guys immediately without many facts.
The flight track certainly looks like a PM SID followed by an intercept to IFR route tracking for APITI - TARUA- AP; of course GPS can make any flightpath look as though it were IFR tracking.
The flight track certainly looks like a PM SID followed by an intercept to IFR route tracking for APITI - TARUA- AP; of course GPS can make any flightpath look as though it were IFR tracking.
Where does it say they weren't IFR? I'm not saying they were just that media information I have seen hasn't made mention of it - One would suspect with that weather, over that terrain, in the evening, in an IFR twin, they would've been. Not need to start doubting the guys immediately without many facts.
The flight track certainly looks like a PM SID followed by an intercept to IFR route tracking for APITI - TARUA- AP; of course GPS can make any flightpath look as though it were IFR tracking.
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The track shows decent 500-900 fpm. Looks like they just started descending way too early. Sector alt there is 7800....
7,800 LSALT on the track. Depending on the version of DA42 they were in, that could have been a big problem OEI. I doubt they were in the latest version.
[/QUOTE]7,800 LSALT on the track. Depending on the version of DA42 they were in, that could have been a big problem OEI. I doubt they were in the latest version.
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Not necessarily. They were flying late for the coverage below 10,000 - when I fly there at night they offer me non-standard altitude to finish the flight under control. Besides, even outside of the control area there are approach plates and charts that depict safe procedures for approach (I am talking about GPS now, NDB in Taupo is notoriously unreliable). DA42 has very decent G1000 package which helps a lot in terms of orientation and positioning.
Sorry pal, How many times do we in NZ have to witness these kinds of accidents, yes we all can make mistakes but in the world of modern technology why can’t Airways Corp provide a service ( Radar oversight ) for our young kiwis trying to better themselves. User pay system is harming safety and progress - Airways Corp guilty.
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Sorry pal, How many times do we in NZ have to witness these kinds of accidents, yes we all can make mistakes but in the world of modern technology why can’t Airways Corp provide a service ( Radar oversight ) for our young kiwis trying to better themselves. User pay system is harming safety and progress - Airways Corp guilty.
Yep they where IFR and because they where training I don’t believe they where looking for a visual approach.
Bravo Delta
It might surprise you to know the following airports, all of which have scheduled flights serving them involve IFR flight outside controlled airspace, day or night.
Kaitaia, Kerikeri, Whangarei, Whakatane, Taupo, Wanganui, Paraparaumu, Hokitika, Westport, Timaru. Later at night you can add Hamilton, Palmerston North, Napier Gisborne, New Plymouth, Tauranga, Rotorua plus a few others.
As utopian as your suggestion is I don't see radar control services being provided in these areas either during main business hours far less 24/7. The cost is too high. From what I am observing Airways cannot staff their current requirements without them providing even greater coverage.
Also are you telling me everywhere in Oz has radar services in similar areas?
It might surprise you to know the following airports, all of which have scheduled flights serving them involve IFR flight outside controlled airspace, day or night.
Kaitaia, Kerikeri, Whangarei, Whakatane, Taupo, Wanganui, Paraparaumu, Hokitika, Westport, Timaru. Later at night you can add Hamilton, Palmerston North, Napier Gisborne, New Plymouth, Tauranga, Rotorua plus a few others.
As utopian as your suggestion is I don't see radar control services being provided in these areas either during main business hours far less 24/7. The cost is too high. From what I am observing Airways cannot staff their current requirements without them providing even greater coverage.
Also are you telling me everywhere in Oz has radar services in similar areas?
Thread Starter
The aircraft: (From Wings over New Zealand Aviation Forum)
https://i104.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0eyocx1n.jpg
https://i104.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0eyocx1n.jpg