Beechcraft G58 Baron, Reg. Kiwi Lion LLC, N254F: Accident occurred March 29, 2013 in the sea off Kawhia, Waikato - New Zealand

http://registry.faa.gov/N254F
 
NTSB Identification: WPR13WA177 
14 CFR Non-U.S., Non-Commercial
Accident occurred Friday, March 29, 2013 in Kawhia Harbour, New Zealand
Aircraft: BEECH G58, registration: N254F
Injuries: 2 Fatal.

The foreign authority was the source of this information.

On March 29, 2013, at 2320 universal coordinated time, a Beech G58, N254F, ditched in the ocean about 11 nautical miles west of Kawhia Harbour, New Zealand. The airplane was registered to Kiwi Lion LLC, and operated under the pertinent civil regulations of New Zealand. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured, and the airplane was destroyed.

Just prior to the ditching, the pilot radioed a loss of engine power.

The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of New Zealand. This report is for information purposes only and contains only information released by the Government of New Zealand. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from:

Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)
P.O. Box 3555
Wellington 6140
New Zealand

Tel: (64) 4-560-9400
 Fax: (64) 4-569-2024
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A body has been recovered from the downed plane flown by 2degrees boss Eric Hertz. 

 Police will not say whether it is Hertz or his wife Katherine.

"Because of the sensitivities surrounding this multi-agency operation, police will not be able to confirm any details about this person until the body has been formally identified," District Operations Manager Inspector John Kelly said.

"Police are currently working on behalf of the Coroner in relation to this and the person's body was bought to shore this afternoon with the assistance of the coastguard and will be transported to Auckland for a post-mortem examination to be carried out on Monday."

He said the recovery of the body was a significant step but there was "still a lot of work to be done."

The wreckage of the plane continues to lie on the ocean floor off Kawhia.

The body was recovered by navy divers around noon. They had made five dives to the site.

One of the navy divers was injured during the wreckage recovery.

Waikato Police Operations Manager, Inspector John Kelly said showed "just how significant the risks faced by divers working below the ocean's surface are."

He would not specify what the injury was, saying only that the diver was injured while working on the ocean floor about 2.30pm.

"The diver was recovered to the surface and has since been flown by rescue helicopter for treatment as a precautionary measure," Kelly said.

"On behalf of all the agencies involved we would like to express our best wishes to him, Lieutenant Commander Trevor

Leslie and his Operational Dive Team and the captain and crew of the Manawanui."

Kelly said the incident underlined why safety had to come first despite the desire to recover the aircraft and bodies.

Commanding officer of the Operational Dive Team (ODT), Lieutenant Commander Trevor Leslie, said the environmental conditions faced by the divers include various sized swells, strong bottom currents and significantly reduced visibility below the surface.

"These conditions, combined with diver entanglement hazards and the inherent risks associated with diving to this depth are just some of the challenges facing the ODT divers"

Eric Bennett Hertz, 58, and Katherine Picone Hertz, 64, were in their twin-engine Beechcraft Baron when it plunged into the sea off Kawhia Harbour on March 30.

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