Fatal Gliding Accidents in New Zealand
Introduction
Examination of the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) published reports on recent fatal gliding accidents indicates a variety of accident causes. These range from controlled flight into terrain, pilot incapacitation, likely use of illegal narcotics, stalls, spins and general loss of control while flying with minimal terrain clearance. Universally however, all of these accidents were the result of range of human factors and were not associated with mechanical failure in any way.
By investigating each of these accidents and identifying causal factors as they relate to the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS), pilot awareness may be heightened and safety improved.
| Recent Fatal Gliding Accidents in New Zealand | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Registration | Date | Location | Description |
| ZK-GDV | 18 October 1998 | Near Blenheim | Stall with insufficient height to recover5 |
| ZK-GTR | 4 January 1999 | Maramarua | In-flight incapacitation leading to loss of control4 |
| ZK-GVW | 22 January 2002 | Near Omarama | Inadvertent spin while ridge soaring1 |
| ZK-GRE | 17 December 2003 | Manawaru | In-flight incapacitation leading to loss of control3 |
| ZK-GIX | 12 January 2005 | Omarama Saddle | Cannabis usage and controlled flight into terrain2 |
| G-OJTA | 15 November 2006 | Mount Prospect | Controlled flight into terrain6 |
| D-2929 | 21 December 2007 | Turret Peaks | Controlled flight into terrain8 |
| ZK-GJO | 11 February 2008 | Waharoa | Loss of control during a low level turn7 |
| ZK-GYY | 27 February 2009 | Mount Saint Cuthbert | Investigation pending9 |
| ZK-GVP | 28 October 2009 | Bombay Hills | Investigation pending10 |
Fatal Gliding Accidents by Location
| Fatal New Zealand Gliding Accident Sites1 | |
|---|---|
| North Island | South Island |
| map embedded from Google Maps on 29 August 2010 | map embedded from Google Maps on 29 August 2010 |
HFACS Analysis
References
1. Carrelli, M. A. (2002). CAA Aircraft Accident Report: Occurrence No 02/99. Retrieved from http://www.caa.govt.nz/Accidents_and_Incidents/Accident_Reports/ZK-GVW_Fatal_22Jan2002.pdf on 23 August 2010.
2. Carrelli, M. A. (2006). CAA Aircraft Accident Report: Occurrence No 05/31. Retrieved from http://www.caa.govt.nz/Accidents_and_Incidents/Accident_Reports/ZK-GIX_Fatal_12Jan2005.pdf on 23 August 2010.
3. Daley, J. A. (2006). CAA Aircraft Accident Report: Occurrence No 03/3668. Retrieved from http://www.caa.govt.nz/Accidents_and_Incidents/Accident_Reports/ZK-GRE_Fatal_17Dec2003.pdf on 23 August 2010.
4. Hunt, M. G. (1999). CAA Aircraft Accident Report: Occurrence No 99/1. Retrieved from http://www.caa.govt.nz/Accidents_and_Incidents/Accident_Reports/ZK-GTR_Fatal_04Jan1999.pdf on 23 August 2010.
5. Hunt, M. G. (1999b). CAA Aircraft Accident Report: Occurrence No 98/2908. Retrieved from http://www.caa.govt.nz/Accidents_and_Incidents/Accident_Reports/ZK-GDV_Fatal_18Oct1998.pdf on 23 August 2010.
6. Moselen, A. (2008). CAA Aircraft Accident Report: Occurrence No 06/4214. Retrieved from http://www.caa.govt.nz/Accidents_and_Incidents/Accident_Reports/G-OJTA_Fatal_15_Nov_06.pdf on 23 August 2010.
7. Moselen, A. (2010). CAA Aircraft Accident Report: Occurrence No 08/497. Retrieved from http://www.caa.govt.nz/Accidents_and_Incidents/Accident_Reports/ZK-GJO_Fatal.pdf on 23 August 2010.
8. Wright, P. S. (2008). CAA Aircraft Accident Report: Occurrence No 07/4533. Retrieved from http://www.caa.govt.nz/Accidents_and_Incidents/Accident_Reports/D-2929_Fatal.pdf on 23 August 2010.
9. FLIGHT SAFETY FOUNDATION (2010). Aviation Safety Network Wikibase Occurrence # 58815. Retrieved from http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=58815 on 12 September 2010.
10. FLIGHT SAFETY FOUNDATION (2010). Aviation Safety Network Wikibase Occurrence # 69463. Retrieved from http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=69463 on 12 September 2010.
Want to know more?
- CAA: Fatal Accident Reports
- Visit here to find accident reports for these and other fatal aviation accidents in New Zealand.
- Flight Safety Foundation: Aviation Safety Network
- Visit here to find out more about aviation safety occurrences worldwide.
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Authors / Editors
page revision: 33, last edited: 12 Sep 2010 02:40
