Air New Zealand Flight 4374


Air New Zealand Flight NZ4734 was a flight from Gisborne which crashed while landing at to Auckland killing two of the four on board.

Aircraft

The Fokker Friendship F27-500 was eight years old at the time of the crash. Until 1977 the aircraft had been operated by the New Zealand National Airways Corporation.

Crash

At 14:28 the aircraft had decended to 3000 feet and the pilots deployed the flaps. The aircraft's speed was 165 knots, and increased to 211 knots; 2 minutes 14 seconds later the aircraft crashed into the harbour killing two, the captain and a passenger.

Cause

The investigation found that the crew were misled by a visual illusion during conditions of reduced visibility into believing they were at a safe height and failed to see the flight instruments sufficiently to confirm a safe landing path.