Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain crash, Jun 6, 2003 (8 killed)
Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain accident on June 6, 2003 near Christchurch, Canterbury Regional Council, New Zealand with 8 fatalities. Cause: The...
- Date: June 6, 2003
- Aircraft: Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain
- Location: Christchurch, Canterbury Regional Council, New Zealand
- Fatalities: 8
- Phase of flight: Approach and landing
- Cause: The TAIC found that the pilot probably became distracted from monitoring his altitude at a critical stage of the approach. Pilot incapacitation was considered unlikely but could not be ruled out, and the report noted that TAWS would have given a timely warning.
A Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain on a night IFR charter from Palmerston North to Christchurch descended below minimum altitude on the instrument approach and struck trees and terrain 1.2 nm short of the runway. The pilot and seven passengers were killed; two passengers were seriously injured.