| NZ551 | 6090 | Acquired by East Coast Airways in 1935 and test flown at Hobsonville as ZK-ADR on 25 March 1935. Re-registered as ZK-AER. Acquired by Union Airways when East Coast Airways was taken over on 10 July 1938. Impressed into RNZAF for a cost of 26000 pounds as NZ551 on 15 September 1939. Allocated to Electrical and Wireless School Wigram from early 1940 until mid 1942. Transferred to Communications Flight Rongotai and damaged in landing accident at Rongotai during 1943. Sold to Air Travel (NZ) Ltd. Rebuilt by De Havillands and registered as ZK-AHT in March 1944. Crashed on Mount Hope, Nelson on 30 June 1944, killing airline founder Bert Mercer who was a passenger. The aircraft was flying low over the Hope Saddle and the pilot lost control in a violent updraught. The aircraft stalled and dived into the forest below, splitting open the fuselage when it hit. Apart from Mercer, one other passenger died and the remaining 5 on board were all injured. |
