Investigation finds systemic failures caused Air New Zealand plane to fly low
Thursday 1 October 2026 · 4 outlets · 4 reports · updated In this story Air New Zealand, Transport Accident Investigation Commission
A TAIC report found that an Air New Zealand aircraft descended approximately 2500 feet below its planned flight path during a June 2023 night approach to Timaru. The investigation revealed that pilots became fixated on spotting runway lights while the aircraft was in an incorrect autopilot mode.
Key facts
6 facts
- Incident date: June 2023
- Aircraft: De Havilland Q300, flight NZ8199
- Location: Timaru, New Zealand
- Minimum safe altitude: 2000ft
- Lowest altitude reached: 1156ft
- Passengers and crew: 33 passengers and 3 crew
The full story
1 min read · 4 outlets
A final report from the Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) has revealed that an Air New Zealand Q300 aircraft descended significantly below its safe altitude during a June 2023 approach to Timaru. The aircraft reached a low of 1156ft in an area where the minimum safe altitude was 2000ft. The plane, carrying 33 passengers and three crew, landed safely without damage or injury after the captain corrected the descent.
The investigation found the pilots became fixated on searching for runway lights on a moonless night, which caused them to stop monitoring cockpit instruments. This fixation meant the crew did not notice the autopilot was in vertical speed mode rather than vertical navigation mode. In this mode, the aircraft descended at 1400 feet per minute, which was roughly double the usual rate.
TAIC identified systemic issues, including a safety culture within the Q300 fleet that was misaligned with the rest of Air New Zealand following the 2019 integration of regional carriers. The commission also stated the regulatory relationship between Air New Zealand and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) was "too close in nature," which likely hindered impartial oversight.
The error was linked to the aircraft's flight management system, which required pilots to use a manual workaround during altimeter changes. While Air New Zealand and the CAA have addressed seven of nine safety issues identified by the commission, two recommendations remain. These involve working with manufacturer De Havilland Canada on a technical fix for the flight management system and advocating for longer cockpit voice recorder requirements.
How it developed
- Thu 1 Oct, 8:30amReport 4 notes that Air New Zealand's internal investigation found pilots routinely did not set the altitude alerter because they expected to switch modes almost immediately.
Where reports differ
- Reports vary on the total descent distance, with some stating the plane fell about 1000 feet below the minimum safe altitude and others stating it fell more than 2500 feet below its planned flight path
Compiled from reports by The Post, RNZ, 1News and Stuff.
