What happened
A chartered aircraft, identified by registration ZK-NOM, was operating a flight for a German tourist group traveling to various locations throughout New Zealand. The mission involved a visual flight rules (VFR) trip from Glunttanner toward Queenstown, which was intended to include scenic views of the Mount Cook area.
At approximately 11:53 hours, air traffic services received a taxiing notification from the aircraft. However, subsequent attempts by Christchurch Flight Information to establish further contact with the flight were unsuccessful. Later that afternoon, the wreckage of the aircraft was located within a highly complex area of the Franz Josef Glacier, characterized by deep crevasses and steep pinnacles, at an altitude of 4,500 feet. The impact resulted in all fatalities among the passengers and crew.
Findings
No specific findings regarding the mechanical or operational cause were provided in the initial report, though the wreckage was found in a difficult, high-elevation glacial terrain.