What happened
During a nighttime cargo operation between Christchurch and Wellington, an aircraft flying at 11,000 feet encountered severe icing. While maintaining its cruise altitude, the plane became uncontrollable and entered a steep dive. The aircraft subsequently crashed into the ocean in the vicinity of Kaikoura. There were two fatalities resulting from the accident.
Findings
Investigations into the crash identified several critical contributing factors involving both environmental conditions and crew fatigue. The primary cause was the presence of icing conditions acting on an aircraft that lacked necessary deicing equipment.
Furthermore, the pilot's operational state was heavily compromised by extreme exhaustion. Records indicated the pilot had been on duty for over 18 hours, during which time they managed the loading and unloading of more than 10 tons of cargo. The investigation noted that the crew member lacked adequate periods for meals or rest. Additional stressors included exposure to heavy rain without proper protective gear and a lack of sufficient training regarding indoctrination protocols. It was also determined that the pilot experienced hypoxia during the flight.