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Convair 580 Ferry Flight to New Zealand Ends in Emergency Landing at Gisborne

Gisborne, New Zealand 300 nm ESE, CA

On June 18, 2003, a Convair 580 C-GKFJ operated by Kelowna Flightcraft Air Charter Ltd. was involved in an aviation accident near Gisborne, New Zealand 300 nm ESE, CA. No fatalities were reported. This summary draws on records from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB); 4 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB)Primary reportUpdated 2026-10-18Data APIEditorial standards

A Convair 580 ferry flight to New Zealand deviated east due to GPS waypoint errors and weather, forcing an emergency landing at Gisborne with minimal fuel after a USAF aircraft provided guidance.

Flight Details and Crew Composition On 15 June 2003, a Kelowna Flightcraft Air Charter Ltd. Convair 580, registration C-GKFJ, serial number 114, departed Kelowna, British Columbia, for a delivery flight to New Zealand. The aircraft was sold to Field Aviation of New Zealand and was being ferried under a Canadian ferry permit without a certificate of airworthiness. The crew consisted of two Canadian pilots and a New Zealand ground engineer. The flight included a 29-hour rest stop in Honolulu, Hawaii, and a refueling stop in Pago Pago, American Samoa, before departing for Palmerston North, New Zealand, on 17 June at 2040 UTC.

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Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 18 Jun 2003 Convair 580 C-GKFJ accident near Gisborne, New Zealand 300 nm ESE, CA?

A Convair 580 ferry flight to New Zealand deviated east due to GPS waypoint errors and weather, forcing an emergency landing at Gisborne with minimal fuel after a USAF aircraft provided guidance.

Were there any fatalities in the 18 Jun 2003 Convair 580 C-GKFJ accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 18 Jun 2003 involved a Convair 580 C-GKFJ, operated by Kelowna Flightcraft Air Charter Ltd., at Gisborne, New Zealand 300 nm ESE, CA.

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