What happened
A supply mission departing from Christchurch was en route to provide logistics for the bases at McMurdo Sound and Cape Hallett. The aircraft, carrying a crew of six and seven passengers, was transporting 8.5 tons of wood at the time of the accident.
While flying at 7,000 feet under visual meteorological conditions, the flight was approximately 29 km away from its intended course. During the approach to Cape Hallett, the pilot initiated a descent toward 6,500 feet, performing a series of turns including a right turn to 345° followed by a left turn to 270° while maneuvering toward Cape Hallett Bay.
As the aircraft continued its descent to 2,400 feet, it entered a cloud layer at a speed of 135 knots with flaps extended. During this phase, the plane struck the ground and broke apart. The wreckage was located several hours later, approximately 37 km from the Cape Hallett camp. The accident resulted in seven fatalities and six injuries.
Findings
Investigations concluded that the crash was primarily driven by navigative errors committed by the crew, who were not aware of their precise location when beginning the final descent toward the camp. Additionally, limited visibility caused by cloud cover served as a contributing factor to the event.