No fatalities

Twin-engine aircraft crash into sea off New Plymouth (NZ401)

New Plymouth, New ZealandTakeoff (climb)

On September 28, 1942, an Avro 652 Anson (registration NZ401) operated by Royal New Zealand Air Force - RNZAF was involved in an aviation accident near New Plymouth, New Zealand during takeoff. 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 airplane crashed into the ocean shortly after takeoff from New Plymouth Airport. All four occupants were successfully rescued, but the aircraft was destroyed.

What happened

The incident occurred during the initial climb phase following departure from New Plymouth Airport. The aircraft, identified as a twin engine airplane, experienced an aerodynamic stall shortly after becoming airborne. Following the loss of lift, the plane descended rapidly and impacted the surface of the sea. Emergency response teams located the wreckage in the water and successfully extracted all four individuals on board. While the occupants survived the accident, the airframe was not recoverable and was declared a total loss.

Findings

The specific technical or human factors contributing to the stall during the climb phase are not detailed in the available source material. The primary outcome recorded is the survival of all personnel involved and the subsequent loss of the aircraft.