What happened
On Saturday, 6 July 1996, a Hughes 269C helicopter, registration ZK-HVV, was conducting a series of reconnaissance flights on behalf of the New Zealand Army. The mission took place in the region spanning between Waiouru and Taihape. During the final leg of the mission, the aircraft failed to return to its base, prompting the launch of a search operation. The wreckage was subsequently located approximately 900 meters from the initial operating site.
The investigation
Investigators determined that the aircraft had struck the ground while performing low-level maneuvers. The accident resulted in two fatalities—the pilot and one passenger—while a second passenger sustained serious injuries. The investigation focused on the environmental conditions and the flight profile at the time of the impact.
Findings
Technical analysis established that the collision occurred during low-altitude operations. A significant contributing factor identified by investigators was the presence of snow cover on the terrain, which caused a loss of depth perception for the pilot, making it difficult to distinguish the ground surface from the surrounding landscape.