ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 28483
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Monday 12 February 1962 |
| Time: | c. 12:37 |
| Type: | de Havilland DH.90A Dragonfly |
| Owner/operator: | Air Charter (NZ) |
| Registration: | ZK-AFB |
| MSN: | 7560 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 5 |
| Aircraft damage: | Aircraft missing |
| Location: | Missing, Mount Aspiring area -
 New Zealand
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Passenger - Non-Scheduled/charter/Air Taxi |
| Departure airport: | Christchurch Airport, Canterbury, New Zealand (NZCH) |
| Milford Sound, Fiordland National Park, New Zealand | |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources |
The Dragonfly "Kiwi Rover" departed Christchurch Airport at 09:52 on a scenic flight to Milford Sound, with five persons on board (pilot and four passengers). The estimated time of arrival at Milford was 12:37. It never arrived there and the fate of pilot Brian Chadwick and his four passengers remains unknown to this day.
Pilot and Passengers of ZK-AFB:
Brian Geoffrey Chadwick (pilot).
Passengers:
Darrell Stanley Shields,
Louis Rowan,
Elwyn Saville,
Valerie Gay Saville.
There were many apparent sightings and ‘hearing’ observations on both the eastern side and the western side of the South Island in the areas that the pilot, Brian Chadwick was known to fly, which caused great confusion for the searchers as they didn’t really have any clue as to where to start searching! The outcome was that it became the biggest air search to ever happen in New Zealand, and the searching still continues every so often, to this day. During the original February 1962, search 34 planes flew nearly 400 hours in 167 sorties and covered an area of 17,000 sq. miles. It became known as “The Honeymooners Flight” as Elwyn and Valerie Saville were on their honeymoon.
As the aircraft failed to arrive at destination, Search And Rescue operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the airplane nor the five occupants was found. The wreckage of ZK-AFB has never been found, but unconfirmed reports speak of wreckage (which may or may not be ZK-AFB) being discovered in the 3,033 metre (9,951 feet) Mount Aspiring area.
Due to lack of evidence, the cause of the accident could not be determined. Although no cause for the disappearance could be established, the official inquiry drew attention to shortcomings in the plane's maintenance and also to its being overloaded, although fuel consumption in the first hour of flight would have eliminated the overloading.
Sources:
1. Lost Without Trace: Brian Chadwick & the Missing Dragonfly by Richard Waugh
2. https://www.findlostaircraft.co.nz/zk-afb.html
3. https://air-britain.com/pdfs/production-lists/DH90.pdf
4. http://www.airhistory.org.uk/dh/p075.html
5. https://www.dh90.info/
6. https://www.airhistory.net/photo/193268/ZK-AFB [ZK-AFB at Christchurch May 1961--January 1962]
7. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/search-continues-for-wreckage-of-plane-that-went-missing-in-1962/7K5Q7P773N5JZN5H45AAKIFKSQ/
9. https://www.aviationfilm.com/aircraft/dh90/index.shtml
10. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/461370/search-continues-for-wreckage-of-plane-that-went-missing-in-1962
11. https://teara.govt.nz/en/1966/disasters-and-mishaps-air-losses/page-4
12. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/womans-fashion-boot-could-solve-one-of-new-zealands-greatest-aviation-puzzles/3P7TB5NISZQDCYVQ2T4PEI6FDU/
13. https://theoutdoorphonestore.com/13127/last-flight-dragonfly-investigate-dec-05/
14. https://www.1news.co.nz/2021/01/07/christchurch-family-ask-for-specialist-help-to-find-plane-missing-for-60-years/
15. https://rnzaf.proboards.com/thread/15135
Media:
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 27-Sep-2008 01:00 | ASN archive | Added |
| 26-Oct-2008 10:40 | angels one five | Updated |
| 21-Mar-2010 13:47 | TB | Updated [Aircraft type, Other fatalities, Location, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 01-Apr-2010 12:16 | angels one five | Updated [Operator, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport] |
| 09-Jan-2011 09:37 | TB | Updated [Operator, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source] |
| 11-Jan-2017 04:14 | angels one five | Updated [Aircraft type, Narrative] |
| 08-Aug-2020 04:37 | Ron Averes | Updated [Location, Damage] |
| 22-Jan-2022 09:09 | Ron Averes | Updated [Aircraft type] |
| 02-Feb-2022 01:52 | Ron Averes | Updated [Location] |
| 16-Nov-2022 00:22 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Time, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Embed code, Narrative, Category] |
| 16-Nov-2022 00:23 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Narrative] |
| 16-Nov-2022 00:25 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Source] |
| 16-Nov-2022 19:12 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Narrative] |
| 16-Nov-2022 19:17 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Location, Source, Narrative, Category] |
| 16-Nov-2022 19:17 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Location] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation