ZK-MCW. Aerospatiale ATR-72-212. c/n 458.

Was also registered as: F-WQLK; N532AS; F-WQNB; XY-AIE.

 

This aircraft was ordered new by Air New Zealand - ?

Built by Avion de Transport Regional (ATR) at Toulouse, France

First flown (T1) Toulouse (Blagnac) - Toulouse (Blagnac) as 'F-WWLO' - June 20, 1995

Accepted by Air New Zealand at Toulouse (Blagnac) - December 07, 1995

Entered onto the New Zealand Aircraft Register as ZK-MCW - December 08, 1995

Registered to Mount Cook Airline Limited, Christchurch, New Zealand

The aircraft was named 'Christchurch'

Departed Toulouse on the delivery flight to New Zealand as SXI? - December 08, 1995

It arrived at Christchurch on completion of the delivery flight - December 14, 1995

Route: Toulouse - Alexandria - Al Ain - Nagpur - Penang - Kupang - Brisbane - Christchurch

Operated its first Mount Cook revenue service Christchurch - ? as NZ? - December 1995

The aircraft was withdrawn from service at Christchurch - January 2000

Departed Christchurch on the ferry flight to France - January 18, 2000

It arrived at Toulouse (Francazal) on completion of the ferry flight - January 25, 2000

Cancelled from the New Zealand Aircraft Register - January 25, 2000

Entered onto the French Aircraft Register as F-WQLK - January 25, 2000

Departed Toulouse on the ferry flight to the United States - March 2000

It arrived at Atlanta on delivery to Atlantic Southeast Airlines - March 31, 2000

Cancelled from the French Aircraft Register - March 31, 2000

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N532AS - March 31, 2000

Registered to Wells Fargo Bank Northwest, Salt Lake City, Utah

Leased to Atlantic Southeast Airlines (ASA) as the registered operator

It was withdrawn from service at Atlanta, Georgia - February 2005

Departed Atlanta on the ferry flight to Toulouse (Francazal) on return to ATR for storage - February 22, 2005

Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - October 14, 2005

Entered onto the French Aircraft Register as F-WQNB - October 14, 2005

The aircraft was prepared for lease to Air Bagan, Myanmar

Cancelled from the French Aircraft Register - February 2006

Entered onto the Burmese Aircraft Register as XY-AIE - February 2006

Leased to Air Bagan as the registered operator

The aircraft was destroyed whilst taking off at Putao, Myanmar - February 19, 2008

The crew aborted the take-off roll due to engine problems

Unable to stop within the remaining runway length available it over-ran by some 30 metres

It mounted an embankment causing the fuselage to break forward of the wing

There were no fatalities to the 57 occupants

The aircraft was written off

To view more information about this accident please click 'HERE'

 

 

ZK-MCW. Air New Zealand Link - in the original livery with additional 'Mount Cook Airline' titles at Wellington Airport, January 1996.

(M. Richardson Copyright Image 0390-074.)