Douglas DC-3 crash, Jul 3, 1963 (23 killed), Mt Ngatamahi...
Douglas DC-3 accident on July 3, 1963 near Mt Ngatamahinerua Waikato Regional Council, New Zealand with 23 fatalities. Cause: Official finding: a...
- Date: July 3, 1963
- Aircraft: Douglas DC-3
- Location: Mt Ngatamahinerua Waikato Regional Council, New Zealand
- Fatalities: 23
- Phase of flight: En route
- Cause: Official finding: a downdraft pushed the aircraft below the range crests into severe turbulence in poor weather, and the crew were probably unaware of their true position and began a premature descent
DC 3 ZK AYZ Hastings of New Zealand National Airways Corporation was flying flight NZ441 from Whenuapai to Tauranga when it flew into a rock face in the Kaimai Ranges near Mount Ngatamahinerua on 3 July 1963 local time. All 23 aboard died, and the accident remains New Zealand's worst internal civil aviation accident.