What happened
During the final approach phase toward Paraparaumu Airport, the aircraft experienced a simultaneous loss of power in both engines. Although the captain managed to successfully restart one engine, the plane could not maintain sufficient airspeed or altitude. During an attempt to regain climb, the aircraft entered a right bank and struck a residential building, which resulted in the loss of 12 feet of the right wing. After passing between two houses, the aircraft crashed into a nearby wooded area. The impact caused the total destruction of the aircraft. The accident resulted in three fatalities involving children, while all other passengers and crew sustained injuries, some of which were categorized as serious.
Findings
Investigations determined that both engines had been drawing fuel from the starboard main tank for a significant period, either during the flight or a large portion of it. This led to the exhaustion of fuel in that specific tank. While the selector valves were found in a position indicating each engine was set to its respective port and starboard tank, evidence suggested these settings may have been altered after the initial engine failure occurred. Records from the previous sixty hours of service indicated that the fuel system and selector equipment had been functioning normally prior to this event.