On 4 July 1966 an Air New Zealand Douglas DC-8-52 with the registration ZK-NZB crashed on takeoff on a routine training flight from Auckland International Airport killing 2 of the 5 crew on board.[1]

1966 Air New Zealand DC-8 crash

The accident aircraft at the time of delivery
Accident
Date	4 July 1966
Summary	Engine failure due to design flaw
Site	Auckland International Airport 37°00′36″S 174°47′29″E
Aircraft
Aircraft type	Douglas DC-8-52
Operator	Air New Zealand
Registration	ZK-NZB
Flight origin	Auckland International Airport
Destination	Auckland International Airport
Crew	5
Fatalities	2
Injuries	3
Survivors	3

Aircraft

The aircraft registered ZK-NZB was the second Douglas DC-8-52 delivered new to the airline in August 1965. It was one year old at the time of the crash.

Accident

The aircraft took off at 3:59pm. Shortly after rotation the aircraft began to pitch up faster and higher than usual, the right wing dropped and the aircraft started turning to the right. The aircraft failed to gain speed and altitude, the right wingtip struck the ground and cartwheeled while disintegrating, the initial impact occurred 3,865 ft (1,178 m) beyond the threshold and 97.5 ft (30 m) right of runway 23, the aeroplane was completely destroyed.[2]

Cause

The crash was due to reverse thrust applied during a simulated failure of no.4 engine on takeoff. The situation occurred when very rapid rearward movement of the power lever caused the associated thrust brake lever to enter the reverse idle position. After take-off, minimum control speed (M_CS) required to overcome this abnormal state of thrust imbalance was never achieved. The condition was recognised by the pilots and rectified but there was not enough time nor altitude available to allow the aircraft to recover.[3]

References