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De Havilland DH.90 Dragonfly accident at Westport, New Zealand, 21 Dec 1942 (ZK-AGP)

Westport, New ZealandFlight

On December 21, 1942, a De Havilland DH.90 Dragonfly (registration ZK-AGP) operated by Air Travel was involved in an aviation accident near Westport, New Zealand in flight. 4 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Examination of the propeller blades showed that the attachment bolts may not have been tightened correctly and had become loose in flight, causing the propeller to separate from the engine. 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)Source recordUpdated 2026-08-04Data APIEditorial standards

Probable cause

Examination of the propeller blades showed that the attachment bolts may not have been tightened correctly and had become loose in flight, causing the propeller to separate from the engine.

— the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A) Determination

Accident narrative

The airplane departed Westport Airport at 0929LT on the last leg to Nelson. While climbing to an altitude of 4,000 feet, the starboard engine suffered serious vibrations then the right propeller detached. The pilot increased power on the left engine and attempted to return to Westport. Shortly later, the airplane stalled and crashed into the sea 7 km offshore. All four passengers drowned while the pilot was rescued. In March 1943, the propeller was found on a beach in Westport. Crew: Arthur C. Baines, pilot. Passengers: Albert Johnson, Albert Winters, Michael Hearty, Geoffrey McBride.

Probable cause (official findings): Examination of the propeller blades showed that the attachment bolts may not have been tightened correctly and had become loose in flight, causing the propeller to separate from the engine.

Related events

Same operator

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 21 Dec 1942 De Havilland DH.90 Dragonfly accident near Westport, New Zealand?

The airplane departed Westport Airport at 0929LT on the last leg to Nelson. While climbing to an altitude of 4,000 feet, the starboard engine suffered serious vibrations then the right propeller detached. The pilot increased power on the left engine and attempted to return to Westport. Shortly later, the airplane…

Were there any fatalities in the 21 Dec 1942 De Havilland DH.90 Dragonfly accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 4 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 21 Dec 1942 involved a De Havilland DH.90 Dragonfly, registration ZK-AGP, operated by Air Travel, at Westport, New Zealand.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

Examination of the propeller blades showed that the attachment bolts may not have been tightened correctly and had become loose in flight, causing the propeller to separate from the engine.

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