Fletcher FU-24 crash, Sep 4, 2010 (9 killed), Fox Glacier
Fletcher FU-24 accident on September 4, 2010 near Fox Glacier, West Coast Regional Council, New Zealand with 9 fatalities. Cause: The centre of gravity...
- Date: September 4, 2010
- Aircraft: Fletcher FU-24
- Location: Fox Glacier, West Coast Regional Council, New Zealand
- Fatalities: 9
- Phase of flight: Takeoff and climb
- Cause: The centre of gravity was well behind the aft limit because the operator never carried out weight and balance calculations. The aircraft became airborne too early and too slowly to control the nose-up pitch, and the pilot could not recover.
A Fletcher FU-24 converted to parachute drop operations took off from Fox Glacier with a pilot and eight skydivers aboard. It pitched up shortly after takeoff, stalled and crashed in flames in a paddock beside the airfield, killing all nine occupants. The investigation found the aircraft had been flown routinely outside its weight and balance limits.