What happened
On the morning of the accident, a twin engine airplane departed from Ohakea Airbase at 09:17 local time as part of a scheduled training mission. During the return portion of the flight, while traversing the area above Taratua Forest Park, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Shingle Slip Knob at 10:11 local time.
Search efforts located the wreckage three days after the impact, positioned just a few meters below the mountain's summit. The accident resulted in two fatalities, as both members of the crew perished in the crash.
Findings
Investigations into the incident suggest that the flight was operating in adverse weather conditions characterized by low visibility. It is believed that the aircraft had drifted off its intended course, and the crew was unable to perceive the mountain terrain due to the obscured visibility. The primary factor in the accident was controlled flight into terrain.