New Zealand's worst aviation disasters

The 1979 Erebus crash, which killed 257 people, is New Zealand's worst aviation accident. Photo / Supplied

Today's air balloon tragedy in the Wairarapa, in which 11 people were killed, is the seventh worst aviation disaster in New Zealand history.

Mt Erebus, 1979
The worst air crash in New Zealand's history was on 28 November 1979, when Flight 901 slammed into the side of Mt Erebus on a sightseeing flight to Antarctica, killing 257.

Kaimai Ranges, 1963
In July 1963, a DC-3 Skyliner flying from Whenuapai Airport, Auckland, to Tauranga crashed into a rock face in the Kaimai Ranges, killing all 23 on board.

Waikanae, 1949
All 15 passengers aboard a Lockheed Lodestar heading to Paraparaumu from Whenuapai died when the plane crashed on the ridge behind Waikanae in March 1949.

Whenuapai, 1942
Fourteen passengers were killed after a Liberation bomber crashed near Auckland's Whenuapai airbase.

New Zealand coast, 1944
Two of a flight of seven Lockheed Hudson bombers went missing off the coast of New Zealand on a service flight from Fiji to Auckland and were never seen again. 14 people were on board the two planes.

Mt Ruapehu, 1948
Thirteen people were killed instantly when a Lockheed Electra heading from Palmerston North airport to Hamilton crashed on Mt Ruapehu near the summit in October 1948.

Wanaka, 1989
A Britten-Normander Islander crashed between Milford Sound and Wanaka, killing 10 people, on August 8, 1989.

Fox Glacier, 2010
On September 4, 2010, nine people died when a skydiving plane crashed after taking off from Fox Glacier airfield on the West Coast.

Franz Josef Glacier, 1993
Nine people died when a sightseeing plane crashed into Franz Josef Glacier on the West Coast, on October 23, 1993

Wanganui, 1988
Nine people were killed after a Piper crashed into hills near Wanganui on May 12, 1988.

Marlborough Sounds, 1985
Eight people were killed when a Cessna 402 carrying a couple of family groups crashed into the Tory Channel in the Marlborough Sounds after striking power cables in October 1985.

Christchurch, 2003
In June, 2003, a Piper Chieftain crashed in heavy fog just short of Christchurch International Airport killing eight passengers.

- NZ HERALD STAFF