What happened
During a scheduled charter flight traveling from Milford Sound toward Queenstown, two separate aircraft collided while cruising over the Milford Sound region. The first aircraft, a Cessna 207 with registration ZK-DQF, was operated by Air Fiordland and was carrying one pilot and six passengers. The second aircraft, also a Cessna 207 with registration ZK-DAX, was operated by Milford Sound Scenic Flights and carried one pilot and four passengers.
Following the mid-air impact, the pilot of ZK-DAX managed to execute an emergency landing, though the aircraft was ultimately destroyed. Conversely, ZK-DQF entered a steep dive and crashed, resulting in seven fatalities among the crew and passengers on board. All five individuals aboard the second aircraft were successfully rescued following the incident.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified several contributing elements to the collision. A primary factor was that neither pilot observed the other aircraft sufficiently early to avoid the impact. This lack of situational awareness was exacerbated by restricted visibility within the cockpit and a failure to maintain an adequate lookout. Additionally, the investigation noted that a high density of air traffic and an unplanned convergence of two different flight paths—necessitated by a change in route due to deteriorating weather conditions—played a significant role in the accident.