Cessna 195 crash at Motueka

[markrogers]

In the 1990's, (I think was around that decade) a vintage Cessna 195 crashed landed into a kiwifruit orchard just after taking off from Motueka aerodrome, both occupants survived with serious injuries and the A/C was a total write off from ploughing through the posts, horrific accident. I'm wondering if anyone here would know of it or remember it and would know of its ZK- registration and the date of the accident. I think it was engine failure that caused the accident.

[Dave Homewood]

ZK-MWY

asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/87665

It appeared on the cover of NZ Wings just before the crash, if that helps.

[markrogers]

Thanks Dave, the registration ZK-MWY helped me find the details and date of the accident; 18 January 1988.

[madmax]

The pilot was Bruce Coulter. The orchard owner was difficult to deal with and would not allow the aircraft to be removed. I'm not sure if it was ever recovered

[harrysone]

The other occupant was Tony Butcher...he mentioned the crash before (can't remember the details, whether fuel or something else mechanical).

[davidd]

The problem was NOT the engine - it was the propeller! It had been recently overhauled (in the USA I think), but the tradesman had inadvertently made a mistake in reassembling the unit and a seal was installed back to front (or some such simple error) and the prop failed in the worst possible place anybody would NEVER wish for - human error. Sad end for such a beautiful aircraft.

[planewriting]

Oct 29, 2024 23:03:15 GMT 12 madmax said:

The pilot was Bruce Coulter. The orchard owner was difficult to deal with and would not allow the aircraft to be removed. I'm not sure if it was ever recovered

For what it's worth, according to the same report (https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/87665) the pilot was Tony Butcher not Bruce Coulter.

[madmax]

Ok thanks, my error I'm sure Bruce was on board and was injured