No fatalities

Twin-engine aircraft crashes into sea near New Plymouth during training (NZ405)

New Plymouth, New ZealandFlight

On August 14, 1944, an Avro 652 Anson (registration NZ405) operated by Royal New Zealand Air Force - RNZAF was involved in an aviation accident near New Plymouth, New Zealand in flight. No fatalities were reported. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

A twin-engine aircraft crashed into the ocean off New Plymouth while conducting a training exercise. All four crew members on board were successfully rescued.

What happened

The incident occurred while the flight crew was participating in a training exercise in the vicinity of New Plymouth. During the mission, the twin-engine aircraft encountered difficulties and subsequently crashed into the sea off the coast of New Plymouth. The specific circumstances leading to the crash remain unknown. Despite the impact with the water, all four individuals on board were recovered alive.

Findings

No official findings or contributing factors have been detailed in the available source material regarding the specific mechanical or human factors that led to the loss of control.