Aviation safety investigations & reports
Technical assistance to the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand, involving the analysis of an audio recording of communications between air traffic control and the pilot of Beechcraft Baron G58, registered N254F on 30 March 2013
AE-2013-223

Summary
On 30 March 2013, a Beechcraft Baron G58 aircraft, registered N254F,with two persons on board, took off from Ardmore Aerodrome, New Zealand on private instrument flight rules (IFR) flight to Timaru, New Zealand. Shortly after the aircraft reached the intended cruise altitude of 18,000 feet (Flight Level 180), the aircraft began descending at a high rate and subsequently collided with the water. Both occupants were fatally injured.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of New Zealand is investigating the accident. On 11 December 2013, investigating officials contacted the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) and requested assistance with the analysis of air traffic control audio recordings containing transmissions from the accident aircraft. To facilitate this assistance and protect the audio data and sensitive information received from the CAA, an external investigation was initiated under the provisions of the Australian Transport Safety Investigation Act 2003.
The ATSB has completed an analysis of the recordings and has provided the results of this analysis to the CAA of New Zealand.
Further information on the CAA investigation, including an interim factual report on the occurrence can be found on the CAA website, at:
www.caa.govt.nz, and
www.caa.govt.nz/Accidents_and_Incidents/Accident_Reports/N254F-interim.pdf
______________
Released in accordance with section 25 of the Transport Safety Investigation Act 2003.
General details
Date: | 30 March 2013 | Investigation status: | Completed | ||
Time: | 2247 UTC | Investigation level: | Defined - click for an explanation of investigation levels | ||
Location (show map): | Off the coast of Kawhia, New Zealand | ||||
State: | International | Occurrence type: | Collision with terrain | ||
Release date: | 15 September 2014 | Occurrence class: | Operational | ||
Report status: | Final | Occurrence category: | Accident | ||
Highest injury level: | Fatal |
Aircraft details
Aircraft manufacturer | Beech Aircraft Corp | |
---|---|---|
Aircraft model | Baron G58 | |
Aircraft registration | N254F | |
Type of operation | Private | |
Sector | Piston | |
Damage to aircraft | Destroyed | |
Departure point | Ardmore, New Zealand | |
Destination | Timaru, New Zealand |