This aircraft was constructed by the Convair Division of the General Dynamics Corporation at San Diego, California

It was built to an order from Pioneer Airlines but it was not taken up

It was built as a Convair 340-60

It was rolled out at San Diego - May 05, 1954

First flown - May 1954

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N73154 - May 1954

Registered to United Airlines, Chicago

It was accepted by United Airlines at San Diego - May 27, 1954

The aircraft was named 'Elko' but later renamed 'South Bend'

It was withdrawn from use and stored - ?

Sold to Tex Johnson Inc, Santa Barbara, California - March 01, 1968

The aircraft was converted to a Convair 580 (PAC151) - 1968

Registered to Aero Spacelines Inc - August 1969

Registered to Armstrong Cork Company - November 08, 1972

It was reregistered as N14278 - June 1973

Registered to Armstrong World Industries Inc - 1980

Sold to Hubbard Broadcasting Inc - December 21, 1983

Sold to ARW Inc, Colorado Springs - September 29, 1988

Sold to Plymouth Leasing Company - April 17, 1978

Sold to Kelowna Flightcraft Charter - 1989

Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - May 1989

Entered onto the Canadian Aircraft Register as C-FEDO - May 15, 1989

Reregistered to Kelowna Flightcraft Charter

Sold to Romberg Enterprises Ltd, New Zealand - June 1989

Cancelled from the Canadian Aircraft Register - July 17, 1989

Entered onto the New Zealand Aircraft Register as ZK-FTB - July 17, 1989

Registered to Romberg Enterprises Ltd t/a Air Freight NZ

It arrived in New Zealand on completion of the ferry flight from Canada - ?

It commenced operations with Air Freight NZ - July ?, 1989

The aircraft was destroyed shortly after taking-off from Auckland Airport - July 31, 1989

It crashed into Auckland's Manukau Harbour

The 2 crew members and the training captain were killed

To view the official accident report please click 'HERE'

Cancelled from the New Zealand Aircraft Register - ?