New Zealand Disasters: Mount Erebus Aircraft Crash (28 November 1979)

On the morning of 28 November 1979, Air New Zealand Flight TE901 left Mangere airport, Auckland, for an 11-hour return sightseeing flight to Antarctica. At 12.49 p.m. (NZST), the aircraft crashed into the lower slopes of Mt Erebus killing all 237 passengers and 20 crew on board. It was the worst civil disaster in New Zealand's history. Source: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/culture/erebus-disaster

• Roll of Remembrance: https://www.erebus.co.nz/Memorial-and-Awards/Roll-of-Remembrance
• List of those killed: https://www.sooty.nz/erebus.html
• Insights: https://insights.nzherald.co.nz/apps/2019/erebus/

Victims are remembered at the Mount Erebus Memorial Cross at Mount Erebus, Ross Island, Antarctica. A wooden cross for the victims of the disaster was erected by recovery workers approximately 3 km south-east of the crash site. Over time the wooden cross eroded and was replaced with a stainless steel cross on 30 January 1987.

The 257 killed:

1. ADDIS Peter James 29, Te Atatū, Auckland, New Zealand
2. AISENMAN Margaret Lleone (nee Paulsen), 39, San Francisco, California, United States
3. ALLAN Alan Lawrence Malyon 59 Clive, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
4. ALLAN Jane Phillipa 17 Clive, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
5. ALLAN Marjorie Townley (nee Dixon) 66, Clive, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
6. ANDERSON Audrey Gordon United Kingdom
7. ANDERSON Margaret Isabel Devonport, Auckland, New Zealand
8. ANGLESEY Grant William 19, Waitara, Taranaki, New Zealand
9. ARMITAGE Ethel Mary 73, Milford, Auckland, New Zealand
10. ARNOLD Melinda Maria Manurewa, Auckland, New Zealand
11. ARNOLD Valerie Ellen Papatoetoe, Auckland, New Zealand
12. ASHTON Grahame Mitford 63, Ōrākei, Auckland, New Zealand
13. BAINBRIDGE Thomas Eric 40, Meadowbank, Auckland, New Zealand
14. BALDWIN Llewellyn Arnold (Peter) 50, Birkenhead, Auckland, New Zealand
15. BARNICK Kay Marion (daughter of Marion) United States
16. BARNICK Marion Ruth (nee Haegele) (mother of Kay) United States
17. BEAUMONT Earl Aubrey Canada
18. BECKETT Desmond William 62, Te Puke, New Zealand
19. BENNETT David John Assistant Purser
20. BLAIR Patricia Adele United States
21. BOND Marilyn Alma (nee Bigwood) 48, Blockhouse Bay, Auckland, New Zealand
22. BOND Robin Melville 54, Blockhouse Bay, Auckland, New Zealand
23. BREHAUT Ronald Thomas 39, Timaru, New Zealand
24. BROAD Jon Philip Dr 51, Hamilton, New Zealand
25. BROAD Philippa Margaret New Zealand
26. BROOKS Geraldine Kay, Timaru, New Zealand
27. BROOKS Gordon Barrett Flight Engineer
28. BROUGH Aubrey Conroy 68, Thames, New Zealand
29. BUCHANAN Geoffrey 68, Orewa, New Zealand
30. BURCKHALTER Lucille Millicent (nee Clark) United States
31. BURGESS Lindsay Robert 60, Whangarei, New Zealand
32. BURGESS Rose Ellen (nee Keen) 58, Whangarei, New Zealand
33. BURGI Heinz Avondale, Auckland, New Zealand
34. BURTON Lorraine Eileen (nee Collin), 42, Thorndon, Wellington, New Zealand
35. BUTLER Rae Jeanne 43, Waihi Beach, New Zealand
36. CAMERON Rangiaho 57, Mt Wellington, Auckland, New Zealand
37. CAMPBELL, Stuart Donald, 22, Whakatane (From Te Puke), New Zealand
38. CARLETON John Barrie 46, Otahuhu, Auckland, New Zealand
39. CARLETON Marion Rennie New Zealand
40. CARR Margaret Bell (nee King) 64, Whangarei, New Zealand (sister of Nancy King)
41. CARR-SMITH, Elizabeth Mary (nee Dennes) Cabin Crew
42. CASSIN Gregory Mark First Officer
43. CATER Graham Ronald Senior Cabin Crew
44. CHADDERTON Brian Harry Papatoetoe, Auckland, New Zealand
45. CHADDERTON Valerie Enid (nee Thomas) Papatoetoe, Auckland, New Zealand
46. CHRISTIANSEN, Alla Irene Finland
47. CHRISTMAS Hugh Francis 58, New Plymouth, New Zealand
48. CLARK David 60, Mt Wellington, Auckland, New Zealand
49. CLARK Irene Alice (nee Crabtree) 75, Belmont, Auckland, New Zealand
50. CLARK Iris (nee Gordon) 65, Takanini, Auckland, New Zealand
51. CLARK William Henry 67, Takanini, Auckland, New Zealand
52. COCKRILL Joan Audrey, New Zealand
53. COLBRAN Cyril Bernard 49, Invercargill, New Zealand
54. COLBRAN Yvonne Louise (nee Dyson) 45, Invercargill, New Zealand
55. COLE John Wright Westmere, Auckland, New Zealand
56. COLLINS Martin John Purser
57. COLLINS Thomas James (Jim) Captain
58. COPAS Jean Ann Barnett (nee Lockett), 46, Puketapu, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
59. COPLEY Susan Elaine United Kingdom
60. COPSEY Audrey Joy (nee Fulton) 55, Pukekohe, New Zealand
61. COREY Constance Dr 46, Epsom, Auckland, United States
62. CRABTREE Mary Alison (nee Kemp) 68, Takapuna, Auckland, New Zealand
63. CRABTREE Norman David 72, Takapuna, Auckland, New Zealand
64. DAHL Marie Patricia 57, Broadmeadows, Wellington, New Zealand
65. DAVIES June Australia
66. DAWSON Peter Massie 50, Pio Pio, New Zealand
67. DEAN Kay 22, Reporoa, New Zealand
68. DEBBAGE Florence Daisy New Zealand
69. DELMAGE Nora Violet New Zealand
70. DUFF Dora Helen United States
71. DUKE Athol David 18, Epsom, Auckland, New Zealand
72. DYKZEUL Hermanus Adrianus Johannes Maria Douglas Wiri, Auckland, New Zealand
73. DYKZEUL Johannes Cabrini Maria Morrinsville, New Zealand
74. EAGLES Gwen Louise New Zealand
75. EDWARDS Edna Miriam (nee Deane) New Zealand
76. EDWARDS Elizabeth Jane 30, Naenae, Hutt Valley, United Kingdom
77. EMMETT Cecillia Campbell (nee Stafford) 62, Te Awamutu, New Zealand
78. EMMETT John Barnham Te Awamutu, New Zealand
79. FERRELL Jean United States
80. FINDLAY Michael James Assistant Purser
81. FROST Katherine Edith Janet New Zealand
82. FURUKAWA Kuniyasu Japan
83. GALLAGHER Alfred James 73, Remuera, Auckland, New Zealand
84. GALLAGHER Elsie Thelma (nee Lindell) Remuera, Auckland, New Zealand
85. GIBBS Brucie (nee Deroles) New Zealand
86. GILLIVER Richard New Zealand
87. GOSLING Violet Iris (nee Barclay) New Zealand
88. GOTO Norio Japan
89. GULLAND Pamela Margaret (nee Robinson) Bucklands Beach, Auckland, New Zealand
90. HANCE Florence Lee (nee Shiplet) United States
91. HANSEN Marlene Anne (nee Pennell) New Zealand
92. HARRIS Hazel Phoebe (nee Hirst) 60, Hamilton, New Zealand
93. HARRISON Annie 50, Takapuna, Auckland, New Zealand
94. HARRISON Muriel Florence Rose (nee Gorton) 78, Campbell's Bay, Auckland, New Zealand
95. HARTLEY James Follett 36, Otorohanga, New Zealand
96. HARTY Myra Pearl 82 Devonport, Auckland, New Zealand
97. HAWORTH Kathleen Maureen (nee Smith) 47, Forrest Hill, Auckland New Zealand
98. HAWORTH Peter Stanley David 52, Forrest Hill, Auckland, New Zealand
99. HIGUCHI Mitsuo Japan
100. HILL Eileen Elsie (nee Bass) 73, Lower Hutt, New Zealand
101. HILL Gordon Alexander New Zealand
102. HOLLOWAY Jean Marie Elizabeth (nee Turner) 63 Glenfield, Auckland, New Zealand
103. HOLTHAM Bryan Ernest 35, Invercargill, New Zealand
104. HOTSON Roy Henry 58, Tuakau, New Zealand
105. HOUGHTON John Greenleaf 39, Dunedin, United States
106. HOWARTH Ralph Brenton 31, Tauranga, New Zealand
107. HUGHES Steven William 32, Bucklands Beach, Auckland, New Zealand
108. HUMPHREY Mildred Alice 69, Orewa, New Zealand
109. HYNDMAN Thomas William Noel 60, Blockhouse Bay, Auckland, New Zealand
110. IMAI Akira Japan (husband of Hisako)
111. IMAI Hisako Japan (wife of Akira)
112. JAHN Ernst Adalbert Hans Louis Walter Kingwood, NJ, United States
113. JAHN Isabel (nee Brito) Kingwood, NJ, United States
114. JARVIS Nicholas Dunstan 43, Glenfield, Auckland, New Zealand
115. JENKINS Evelyn Lois (nee Green) Birkenhead, Auckland, New Zealand
116. JENNINGS Charles Ivory 44 Taradale, New Zealand
117. KARL Kathleen Florence 61, Ellerslie, Auckland, New Zealand
118. KEARNEY Dennis Frances 40, Hillsborough, Auckland, New Zealand
119. KEENAN Dianne Cabin Crew
120. KEITH John Edgar 39, Whangarei, New Zealand
121. KENDON Nancy Phyllis 67, Howick, Auckland, New Zealand
122. KERR Francis Ronald New Lynn, Auckland, New Zealand (husband of Patricia)
123. KERR Geoffrey Ian Hamilton 21, Whanganui, New Zealand
124. KERR Patricia Elizabeth (nee Ryder) New Lynn, Auckland, New Zealand (wife of Francis)
125. KILSBY Anthony John 43, Levin, New Zealand (brother of Geoffrey)
126. KILSBY Geoffrey Michael 35, Levin. New Zealand (brother of Anthony)
127. KING Nancy 62, Russell, New Zealand (sister of Margaret Bell Carr)
128. KIRK Donald Clive New Zealand
129. KITAGAWA Asako Japan (wife of Tetsuro Ono)
130. KLASSOVITY Paul Anthony United States
131. KLENSCH Carl Robert United States
132. LAKE Mary Louise (nee Dickenson) United States
133. LARSEN William Olaf Raetihi, New Zealand
134. LAVIN James Francis 58, Half Moon Bay, Auckland, New Zealand
135. LÉPINE Yves Jean Marie France
136. LEWIS James Charles Cabin Crew
137. LIES Michael Ralph United States
138. LING Alison Louise (nee Robertson) 60, Titirangi, Auckland, New Zealand
139. LITTLEWOOD, Sarah Jane (nee Martin) 65, Blockhouse Bay, Auckland, New Zealand
140. LOCHER Urs 29, Kelston, Auckland, New Zealand
141. LOMAX William Brian Kawerau, New Zealand
142. LOUGHNAN Charles Henry Devenish 66, Tauranga, New Zealand
143. LOUGHNAN Patrick Louis Devenish 61, Tauranga, New Zealand
144. LUCAS Graham Neville Flight Crew
145. MacDONALD Shirley Jane Palmerston North (from Okaiawa, near Hāwera) New Zealand
146. MacKENZIE John Alexander 62, Manurewa, Auckland, New Zealand
147. MacKENZIE Stella Vonomrie (nee Evans) New Zealand
148. McKENZIE Margaret Joyce (Peg) 62, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand
149. MADGWICK Eudora Emily (nee Woolloxall) Whangaparoa, New Zealand
150. MAGNELL Muriel Irene (nee Palmer) United States
151. MAGNELL Theodore James United States
152. MANLEY David Victor 37, Cambridge, New Zealand
153. MANN Dorothy Maude 49, Te Atatu, Auckland, New Zealand
154. MARINOVIC Suzanne Margaret (nee Watt) Senior Cabin Crew
155. MARSDEN Dorothy Rose (nee Norris) Tokoroa, New Zealand
156. MARSDEN Joseph Alan 45, Tokoroa, New Zealand
157. MASKELYNE Trevor John 26, New Plymouth, New Zealand
158. MASON Robert New Zealand
159. MATTHEWS Barbara Dawn Palmerston North, New Zealand
160. MAXWELL Bruce Rhodes Senior Cabin Crew
161. MAYNARD Olive Myrtle (nee Christensen) 54 Thames, New Zealand
162. MAYNARD William George Thames, New Zealand
163. McKENDRY Richard John 33 Wellington, New Zealand
164. McMILLAN John Bruce 64, Gisborne, New Zealand
165. McMILLAN Melba Pearl (nee Pennell) 63, Gisborne, New Zealand
166. McNAMARA Bernard Joseph Pauanui, Tairua, New Zealand
167. McNEIL Eric Albert Dunbar Onehunga, Auckland, New Zealand
168. McPHERSON Roy William Chief Purser
169. MEIER Jurg Switzerland
170. MITCHELL Mark Geoffrey 17, Lower Hutt, New Zealand
171. MITSUHASHI Junichi Japan
172. MITSUHASHI Nakako Japan
173. MOLONEY Nicholas John Flight Engineer
174. MORRISON Katrina Mary June Cabin Crew
175. MULGREW Peter David New Zealand
176. MUNRO Ross 34 Otorohanga, New Zealand
177. MURRAY Owen John 33, Mataura, Gore, New Zealand
178. NICHOLSON Christine Margaret 26, Christchurch, New Zealand
179. NODA Shigeru Japan
180. O'CONNOR Ian John 41 Timaru, New Zealand
181. ODANI Hiroko Japan
182. ODANI Morihiko Japan
183. OLIVER Mervyn John 65, Palmerston North, New Zealand
184. ONO Tetsuro Japan (husband of Asako Kitagawa)
185. OSAWA Juhei Japan
186. OSAWA Masa Japan
187. OZAWA Norio Japan
188. PALMER David Lloyd 31, Stanmore Bay, Auckland, New Zealand
189. PALMER Edward James 63, Tauranga, New Zealand
190. PALMER Gary Kent New Zealand
191. PARKKARI Eija Kylli Marjatta Canada
192. PATERSON, Ethel Mary (nee Kelsey) 54, Onehunga, Auckland, New Zealand
193. PATERSON Linda Jan 22, Onehunga, Auckland, New Zealand
194. PAYKEL Nola Minchin (nee Rudd) Devonport, Auckland, New Zealand
195. PAYNE Alfred Murray 34, Remuera, Auckland, New Zealand
196. PEACOCKE Marjorie Ethel Isabella New Zealand
197. PETHERS Carla 49, Takapuna, Auckland, New Zealand
198. PLUMMER Alexander Francis 85, Pakuranga, Auckland, New Zealand
199. PLUMMER Hilda Francis Hamilton, New Zealand
200. POTTER Michael Arthur Edwin 53, Whangaparoa, New Zealand
201. PRESTON Robert John New Zealand
202. PRICE Beatrice Irene (nee Baxter) 86, Sandringham, Auckland, New Zealand
203. PRICE Beverley Joy Sandringham, Auckland, New Zealand
204. PRIDMORE Joy Agnes (nee Scott) 40, Levin, New Zealand
205. RAWLINS Valerie (Vere) Mary 76, Mt Eden, Auckland, New Zealand
206. REVELL Basil Halvor 52, Waiwera, New Zealand
207. REVELL Eileen Geraldine (nee Hunter) Waiwera, New Zealand
208. RICHMOND Pamela Gayl 24, Mt Eden, Auckland, New Zealand
209. ROBB Lady Helen (nee Seabrook) - Remuera, Auckland, New Zealand
210. ROBERTS Alison Meryl (nee Crawford-Smith) 46, Wellington, New Zealand
211. ROBERTS Michael Seaver 47, Wellington, New Zealand
212. ROBINSON Betty Estelle (nee Biggs) 36, Pariate, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
213. RUDEN Karl United States
214. SATO Hisako Japan
215. SCOTT Marie Therese (nee Debreceny) 40, Dunedin, New Zealand
216. SCOTT Russell Morrison Takapuna, Auckland, Purser
217. SEKI Michi Japan
218. SEKI Toshiro Japan
219. SHEPHERD George Kirby United States
220. SHIGETA Seishiro Japan
221. SHINONOYA Ryoichi Japan
222. SICKLEMORE David Brian Cabin Crew
223. SIMMONS Stephen George Cabin Crew
224. SMITH Betty Louise (nee Nikolaison) 49, Whangarei, New Zealand
225. SMYTHE Henry Howard 55, Thames, New Zealand
226. STEEL Ralph Augustus United States
227. STEVENSON Antony James Leonard Picton, New Zealand
228. STEWART Donald Matthew 35, Birkenhead, Auckland, New Zealand
229. STOKES Alan Maxwell 51, Pakuranga, Auckland, New Zealand
230. STOREY Phyllis May 58, Mt Wellington, Auckland, New Zealand
231. TAKADA Masaaki Japan
232. TANTON Peter Alex 60, Manly, NSW, Australia
233. TAYLOR Douglas Clement Frank 56 Whangarei, New Zealand
234. THOMAS Roy Pearce New Zealand
235. THOMAS Walter Daniel 69, Whangaparoa, New Zealand
236. THOMPSON Billie Gene (nee Tadlock) United States
237. THOMPSON Henry Ford United States
238. THOMPSON Watson New Zealand
239. TREMAINE Florence Anne (nee Dudfield) Taupo, New Zealand
240. TREMAINE Robert David 60, Taupo, New Zealand
241. TRINDER Elaine Frances (nee Wilson) 26, Epsom, Auckland, United Kingdom
242. WARD Henry 58, Henderson, Auckland, New Zealand
243. WARD Valerie (nee ?) 57, Henderson, Auckland, New Zealand
244. WATSON Isa Anna Stewart (nee Leuschke) Isabel, 65, Mt Albert, Auckland, New Zealand
245. WATSON Katherine (nee Matthews) 64, Eastbourne, Wellington, New Zealand
246. WEBB Alfred William Waitoa, Morrinsville, New Zealand
247. WILLIAMS Janet Challlis 70 Hastings, New Zealand
248. WILLIAMS Janet Mary (nee Williams) 60 Havelock North, New Zealand
249. WILLIAMS Leonard Heathcote 60 Havelock North, New Zealand
250. WOLFERT Marie-Therese (nee Clancy) Cabin Crew
251. WOOD Barbara Annie (nee Robertson) 66, Kiritea, Thames, New Zealand
252. WOOD Irvine Kirkham 72, Kiritea, Thames, New Zealand
253. WORTH Linda (nee De Renzy) 74, Epsom, Auckland, New Zealand
254. YANAGISAWA Hamako (nee ?) Japan
255. YANAGISAWA Nobuyoshi Japan
256. YOKOYAMA Ryoji Japan
257. ZOLL Otmar 46, New Lynn, Auckland, New Zealand