_-_Blurred_details.jpg) A Fletcher FU-24 adapted for skydiving similar to the accident aircraft | |
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | 4 September 2010 |
| Summary | Excessive pitch-up during take-off leading to a stall, cause undetermined |
| Site | Fox Glacier Aerodrome, New Zealand 43°27′39″S 170°00′53″E / 43.46083°S 170.01472°E |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Fletcher FU-24 |
| Operator | Skydive New Zealand |
| Registration | ZK-EUF |
| Flight origin | Fox Glacier Aerodrome, New Zealand |
| Destination | Fox Glacier Aerodrome, New Zealand |
| Occupants | 9 |
| Passengers | 4 |
| Crew | 5 |
| Fatalities | 9 |
| Survivors | 0 |
On 4 September 2010, a modified Fletcher FU-24 aeroplane on a parachuting flight from Fox Glacier Aerodrome, New Zealand, crashed shortly after take-off, killing all nine people on board.
The subsequent investigation concluded that the most significant factor contributing to the accident was the weight and balance configuration on the accident flight, which resulted in the aircraft's centre of gravity being located beyond its rear limit, leading to loss of control immediately after lift-off.[1] After the report was released, additional inquiries identified problems with the way that the accident investigation had been conducted, leading to public criticism. Responding to the public pressure, the commission that investigated the accident reviewed the circumstances and findings of the original investigation, and released an amended report that acknowledged that the true cause of the crash could not be determined, in part due to mishandling of the original investigation. As a result, new policies were implemented to improve the quality, transparency, and expertise of air accident investigations in New Zealand.