| Occurrence Type: | Accident |
| 1966 Air New Zealand DC-8 crash | |
| Image Upright: | 1.3 |
| Date: | 4 July 1966 |
| Type: | Engine failure due to design flaw |
| Site: | Auckland International Airport |
| Crew: | 5 |
| Fatalities: | 2 |
| Injuries: | 3 |
| Survivors: | 3 |
| Aircraft Type: | Douglas DC-8-52 |
| Tail Number: | ZK-NZB |
| Origin: | Auckland International Airport |
| Destination: | Auckland International Airport |
| Operator: | Air New Zealand |
On 4 July 1966 an Air New Zealand Douglas DC-8-52 with the registration ZK-NZB crashed on takeoff on a routine training flight from Auckland International Airport killing 2 of the 5 crew on board.[1]
The aircraft registered ZK-NZB was the second Douglas DC-8-52 delivered new to the airline in December 1965. It was one year old at the time of the crash.
The aircraft took off at around 4pm. Shortly after rotation the aircraft began to pitch up faster and higher than usual, the right wing dropped and the aircraft started turning to the right. The aircraft failed to gain speed and altitude, the right wingtip struck the ground and cartwheeled while disintegrating, the initial impact occurred beyond the threshold and right of runway 23, the aircraft was completely destroyed.[2]
The crash was due to reverse thrust applied during a simulated failure of no.4 engine on takeoff. The situation occurred when very rapid rearward movement of the power lever caused the associated thrust brake lever to enter the reverse idle position. After take-off, minimum control speed (MCS) required to overcome this abnormal state of thrust imbalance was never achieved. The condition was recognised by the pilots and rectified but there was not enough time nor altitude available to allow the aircraft to recover.[3]