What happened
On the morning of the accident, Ansett New and Zealand Flight 703 departed Auckland for Palmerston North. During the approach to runway 25, the flight crew operated in continuous stratiform cloud conditions. While maneuvering to intercept the final approach track, the crew noted that the aircraft was slightly below the required altitude. During this phase, the captain ordered the landing gear to be extended, but subsequently discovered that the right-hand main gear had failed to lock into position.
In response to the malfunction, the crew decided to attempt an alternate gear extension. The first officer began navigating the Quick Reference Handbook (QRH) to perform the necessary emergency procedures. During this process, the captain instructed the first officer to skip certain items within the checklist. As the crew attempted to resolve the gear issue, the Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) activated. Approximately five seconds after the alarm, the Dash 8 struck the upper slope of a low-lying hill. There were no survivors in the crash.
Findings
- The crew was performing an instrument approach in IMC conditions.
- A mechanical failure prevented the right main landing gear from locking.
- The captain instructed the first officer to bypass specific steps in the QRH checklist during the emergency procedure.