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Aerial Photography Aircraft Collides with Mt Soho Slope (ZK-AKS)

Mt Soho, New ZealandFlight

On June 15, 1965, a De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide (registration ZK-AKS) operated by Southern Scenic Air-Services was involved in an aviation accident near Mt Soho, New Zealand in flight. No fatalities were reported. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

A twin-engine aircraft conducting an aerial photography mission from Wellington struck the slope of Mt Soho near Arrowtown, Otago, after the pilot lost orientation in whiteout conditions. All five occupants were rescued, and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Incident Overview and Location Details A twin-engine aircraft was operating an aerial photography mission that originated from Wellington. During the flight, the aircraft encountered whiteout conditions, which led to the pilot losing orientation. The airplane subsequently struck the slope of Mt Soho, a location situated approximately 9 km north of Arrowtown, Otago. ## Occupant Status and Aircraft Condition All five occupants on board the aircraft were successfully rescued following the collision. The impact resulted in the aircraft being damaged beyond repair. The source does not specify the exact aircraft type, registration, date, operator, or the formal cause of the accident.

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