Fletcher FU-24 crash, Oct 28, 1984 (1 killed), Hokitika
Fletcher FU-24 accident on October 28, 1984 near Hokitika, West Coast Regional Council, New Zealand with 1 fatality. Cause: A jumper's reserve ripcord...
- Date: October 28, 1984
- Aircraft: Fletcher FU-24
- Location: Hokitika, West Coast Regional Council, New Zealand
- Fatalities: 1
- Phase of flight: Takeoff and climb
- Cause: A jumper's reserve ripcord caught as he left the aircraft, and the streaming canopy pulled him into the tailplane, causing loss of control.
A Fletcher FU-24 operated by Rowley Aviation was dropping parachutists about 2 km southeast of Hokitika Airport when a jumper's reserve ripcord snagged as he left the cockpit and his canopy began to stream. He struck the tailplane, the aircraft went out of control and hit the ground, killing the pilot, who was not wearing a parachute. The other jumpers escaped by parachute.