What happened
On the morning of Friday, 9 June 1995, a de Havilland DHC-8, registered ZK-NEY, struck the ground approximately 16 km east of Palmerston North Aerodrome. The aircraft was in the process of performing a non-precision instrument approach when the collision occurred. The accident resulted in four fatalities (one crew member and three passengers) and left 14 others with serious injuries, including two crew members and 12 passengers.
The investigation
Investigators examined the flight crew's actions during the approach and the mechanical state of the aircraft. The inquiry established that the crew attempted to address an undercarriage malfunction while simultaneously navigating the approach. During this period, the Captain attempted to lower the landing gear without first aborting the instrument approach. The investigation also looked into the sequence of emergency procedures used by the First Officer and the performance of the aircraft's onboard warning systems.
Findings
Several critical errors contributed to the crash. The primary cause was the Captain's failure to maintain the required approach profile and his decision to continue the approach while attempting to troubleshoot the landing gear. This process led to significant pilot distraction. Specifically, the Captain was preoccupied with the gear malfunction while the First Officer attempted to follow Quick Reference Handbook procedures, which were executed in an incorrect sequence. Additionally, the investigation found that the ground proximity warning system provided an insufficient warning time before the impact.