ZK-APO  Auster J/1 Autocrat               (c/n  2212)

                                    

                                        Another of Southern Scenic Air Trips Ltd machines.   It was imported in 1949 and actually
                                        carried some token mail from Queenstown to Hollyford Valley on its inaugural New Zealand
                                        flight.  It is seen above soon after arriving at Queenstown.  ZK-APO remained on the register
                                        under various different owners, long after Southern Scenic had disappeared.  It unfortunately
                                        crashed at Lindis Valley, 7 km south of Lindis Pass in the South Island on 30 June 2002, killing
                                        both pilots.  It appeared to have run out of fuel on a flight from Hokitika to Twizel (or Alexandria).
                                        The official accident report can be viewed at:
                                                            http://www.caa.govt.nz/fulltext/Fatal_accidents/APO_fatal.pdf