1533

VH-IDE

ZK-CZO

x

Imported by Hawker-De Havilland Australia. Delivered 29-Oct-1963. Regd 17-Jan-1964.

• VH-IDE Aerial Agriculture Service Pty. Ltd., Bankstown, NSW, Australia. Canx 28-Jan-1969

• VH-IDE Robby’s Aircraft Services. Parafield, SA.

• ZK-CZO Fieldair Ltd., Gisborne, Palmerston North. Regd 03-Jun-1969. Canx 05-Aug-1973.

Accident: Castle Point,. 09-May-1970. Pilot Neville Worsley. Other details unknown.

Accident: Near Te Karaka, Poverty Bay. 20 mi N of Gisborne 06-Dec-1972. The Beaver was returning to home base in company with another aircraft at the end of a topdressing operation when it was seen to turn steeply to starboard and simultaneously, entering a dive from which there was no attempt to recover before a vertical impact with the ground. Pilot, Alexander Herbert Williams, died in crash and subsequent fire, which consumed the aircraft. An examination of the wreck revealed nothing that could have caused the pilot Alex Williams to lose control of the aircraft. It was concluded that the pilot had been suddenly incapacitated while in flight. A post mortem examination showed three separate medical conditions, which had they been known about by the Civil Aviation medical authorities, could have resulted in the pilot being assessed as unfit for flying duties. At the time of his death Mr Williams had just completed 20,000 hours in the air, a remarkable achievement.

• Destroyed by Fire •

x