Official Review of Fox Glacier Crash

The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) will review the evidence and new matters raised since completing its inquiry into the 2010 Fox Glacier skydiving plane crash. The review will include a full examination of all the wreckage, including material unearthed by 3rd Degree, and TAIC will engage independent investigators to assist in this process.

On March 26, 3rd Degree screened a special investigation into skydiving plane crash, one of New Zealand’s worst air accidents. Reporter Michael Morrah’s story cast doubt on the conclusions reached by TAIC in 2010, including findings the plane was overweight and loaded in a way that made its tail too heavy, effectively laying the blame with the owners of the skydiving company.

TAIC’s original report said “no technical defects were identified that may have contributed to the crash.” Independent investigators interviewed for the 3rd Degree investigation have a different opinion. Their conclusion is that some type of control system failure was the likely cause of the crash, not weight and balance.

TAIC says they will review the matters raised by 3rd Degree, and that parties to the original investigation and next of kin of the deceased will be kept informed and consulted where appropriate.

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