What happened
On the morning of January 9, 1998, a Cessna 172, registration ZK-EWH, departed Queenstown for Te Anau. The flight was carrying a pilot and two passengers. During the return leg of the journey, which was scheduled to depart around 0830 hours, the aircraft failed to reach its destination.
Following the activation of emergency location transmitter signals, search efforts located the wreckage later that morning. The aircraft had impacted a slope covered in beech forest at an elevation of approximately 3,300 feet, situated roughly 200 feet below a saddle between two peaks covered in tussock. The impact resulted in three fatalities.
The investigation
Investigators focused on the meteorological conditions present during the flight. At the time of the accident, the region was experiencing a cold, unstable south-westerly flow characterized by snow showers, vigorous cumulonimbus activity, and heavy precipitation.
Due to the extreme remoteness of the crash site and the lack of survivors or witnesses, the investigation could not establish a definitive, conclusive reason for the accident. However, the physical evidence and environmental conditions provided a clear picture of the circumstances surrounding the impact.
Findings
Analysis of the available evidence indicated that the aircraft was in a steeply banked attitude at the moment of collision. The investigation determined that severely reduced visibility, caused by heavy rain, snow, or low cloud cover, likely led the pilot to unintentionally approach the forested slope. It is believed that the collision occurred while the pilot was attempting an evasive maneuver to avoid the terrain.