Cessna 402 crash, Aug 19, 1998 (5 killed), Halfmoon Bay (...
Cessna 402 accident on August 19, 1998 near Halfmoon Bay (Stewart Island), Southland Regional Council, New Zealand with 5 fatalities. Cause: Probable...
- Date: August 19, 1998
- Aircraft: Cessna 402
- Location: Halfmoon Bay (Stewart Island), Southland Regional Council, New Zealand
- Fatalities: 5
- Phase of flight: Takeoff and climb
- Cause: Probable fuel starvation after both tank selectors were left on the left tank, with the operator lacking a fuel quantity monitoring system and reliable record keeping.
A Vincent Aviation Cessna 402C lost power on both engines on the scheduled flight from Stewart Island to Invercargill and the pilot ditched about 12 NM south of Invercargill. Most occupants got out, but several passengers without life jackets drowned before rescuers arrived. The TAIC inquiry concluded that fuel starvation was the probable cause, linked to fuel tank selector positions and the lack of a fuel quantity monitoring system.