Kaimai Range AIR DISASTER 50th anniversary

Kaimai Range AIR DISASTER 50th anniversary

A 50th anniversary service for New Zealand’s worst internal air disaster is planned for early July. On 3 July 1963 NAC DC-3 ZK-AYZ Hastings while on a scheduled flight from Auckland to Tauranga crashed on the Kaimai Range with the loss of 3 crew and 20 passengers. A 50th anniversary commemoration service is planned:

Time: 9am Wednesday 3 July 2013 (the accident occurred at about 9.09am on 3 July 1963)

Where: At the memorial plaque on Old Te Aroha Road (600 metres southeast from the intersection of Old Te Aroha –Gordon Road and Armadale Road).

What: A 40-minute memorial will be held with involvement from the district council, Air Pilots Guild, and Air New Zealand. The service will be led by Guild Hon. Chaplain Rev Dr Richard Waugh who also wrote book ‘Kaimai Crash’ (2003; reprinted 2012). Following the service the Warbirds Dakota will fly two memorial fly-pasts and there will be local scenic DC-3 flights available from nearby Matamata Airfield (weather permitting).

Other information: Along with family of those 23 people killed in the accident the public is welcome. The six-part documentary series “Descent into Disaster” researched and filmed in 2012 is scheduled for screening on TV One sometime later in 2013. One of the episodes is about the Kaimai accident, presented by Simon Gault.

www.nzairlineresearch.co.nz

ENDS

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