This Site is dedicated to all those families of the people that have tragically disappeared on flights in and around New Zealand. I only hope that from all the effort in building this site and from all the effort of those taking part in this venture, that it will bear fruit in bringing ‘closure’ to their memories!
Gavin Grimmer
I gave this photo to CAA a year or two ago, and they all agreed that it certainly
appeared to be what I claimed it to be, but when they went to Search and Rescue (SAR)about
it, they were told that if I went in and found it, then they would only be most happy
to go in!!!
Looking at this from SAR’s point of view, I can understand where they are coming
from. A full blown search such as would be needed to locate this aircraft (especially
in this area) would cost literally thousands of dollars and I know they have been
“burnt” many times in the past checking out possible objects. The South Island bush
can give off many illusions that appear like crashed aircraft and you only have to
read on this website under the section on ZK-HNW to see one of the several times
I have been caught!
SAR are in the business of trying to save lives, and full credit must be given to
them for the excellent job that they do, but they have to work to a budget and have
to account for every penny that they spend. As there is no longer any lives that
can be saved in this unfortunate incident, then they need a physical finding to justify
going in.
Had this photo been all that I had to go by, then I would never have taken it any
further, but coupled with the location on a map (shown on the next page) placed by
the pilot of the over-flying plane that it was seen from in September 1980..... and
the description of what the passenger saw...... and the fact that the passenger described
it exactly as shown in the photo ( and at that point, he hadn’t seen the photo!),
then even though I’m a little skeptical as I’ve been ‘burnt’ so many time before,
I feel there certainly is enough evidence to justify more searches. It sure is a
pity money doesn’t grow on trees!!!!
These 3D images below, are off the same photo overlayed on Google Earth and taken
from different angles around the object, the object being roughly in the middle of
each one.
