The RNZAF McDonnell Douglas A-4K Skyhawk 1970 – 1997
Losses and Incidents
NZ 6201	26/06/75 - USN exchange pilot jettisoned his drop tanks after the aircraft became uncontrollable due to a hydraulic fault during a night exercise off Williamtown, Australia. Pilot awarded the AFC for saving the aircraft. See Pilot’s Report 19/03/01 – the aircraft was part of a two ship low level navigation exercise flying between Kikiwa and Inangahua in Buller Gorge when it hit 110kV lines resulting to damage at top of vertical stab and rudder. Recovered successfully to Woodbourne.
NZ 6203	Crashed 20/06/96 six miles north of Ohakea NZ, after engine failure caused by a total loss of oil pressure. Flight Lieutenant A Frazer ejected safely
NZ 6207	The first RNZAF Skyhawk loss occurred on 18/10/74. The aircraft flown by Wing Commander F M Kinvig suffered a flame out due to a failure of an oil pump and the pilot was forced to eject one mile north of Ohakea after engine failure caused by a total loss of oil pressure. Pilot ejected safely but broke a leg on landing.
NZ 6208	27/08/80 nose section damaged when nose wheel retracted on the ground. Crashed 23/07/92 on the south east coast of the North Island of NZ. Engine flamed out after experiencing fuel transfer problems. Pilot ejected safely.
NZ 6210	Crashed Ohakea 24/10/89 after mid air collision with NZ 6211 during Kiwi Red aerobatics practice. Pilot killed. (also see Kiwi Red section)
NZ 6211	Damaged in mid air with NZ 6210 o n24/10/89. Repaired and returned to service 17/11/90. Crashed Nowra Australia 16/02/01 during plugged barrel roll air show routine practice. (the other aircraft NZ 6213 averted a double tragedy achieve a last minute pull-up). No 2 Squadron Commander Squadron Leader Murray Nielson was killed in the accident.
NZ 6212	Lost canopy in flight 29/01/86.
NZ 6214	10/01/92 suffered severe damage from a bird strike on the RH intake while at 250ft and 420kts. Repaired and returned to service Dec 1992.
NZ 6218	Severely damaged in RNZAF service in roll over on landing at RAAF Base Townsville on 3 June 1985. Repaired and returned to service 29/03/90.
NZ 6252	Canopy inadvertently jettisoned in flight 05/02/97 near Nowra, Australia. Repaired and returned to service 14/07/97.
NZ 6253	Crashed 25/03/81 Ruahine Ranges. Pilot, Flight Lieutenant J Dick ejected at very low level and was killed
NZ 6254	Damaged in heavy landing at Ohakea 16/03/94. Repaired and returned to service 01/02/95.
NZ 6255	Damaged in a wheels up landing on its drop tanks and using the main runways arrestor equipment at Ohakea on 14/09/89. This was the first such landing for an RNZAF Skyhawk. The RH main landing gear was torn off during touch and go land practice when the aircraft touched down short of the runway threshold at 4:16pm. The aircraft was piloted by Flight Lieutenant G Elliott, with a ground crew member in the passenger seat, both were uninjured. Repaired and returned to service 12/03/90.
NZ 6256	Crashed into the sea 90 nautical miles of the West Australian Coast at 3:15pm on Tuesday 20 March 2001. Piloted by Flight Lieutenant Barnes the aircraft was participating in an ACM sortie part of an Australian Defence Force exercise when the aircraft appeared to stall during aggressive manoeuvring. The pilot ejected and was forced to spend approximately an hour in the life raft before being rescued by a RAAF based rescue helicopter.
	*Dedicated to FLTLT John Dick, FLTLT Graham Carter, SQNLDR Murray Nielson* *R.I.P*


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				Created : Saturday, 25 October 2008