[1]: 2  It occurred on 26 November 1993, when two aircraft operated by Airwork, under contract to the New Zealand Police, collided and crashed in central Auckland.

[2] The accident occurred in daylight with excellent visibility,[1]: 5  in uncontrolled airspace (class G), with both aircraft flying under visual flight rules.

Both the helicopter and aeroplane were operated by Airwork (NZ), and working under contract to the New Zealand Police at the time of the accident.

It was operating out of Mechanics Bay Heliport, the base of the police Air Support Unit, 1 NM east of the central city.

The helicopter performed ad hoc missions around the city, usually at 1,000 feet AMSL, and on 26 November was being piloted by Ross Jeffree Harvey (aged 41), with Police Air Support Unit officers Sergeant Lindsay Eion "Lou" Grant (39) and Constable Alastair Alan Sampson (27).

Shortly after 5:32 pm, the aircraft flew south from the North Shore to a road accident on the Auckland Southern Motorway near the Symonds Street on-ramp.

[1]: 4  It fell onto the Grafton Road on-ramp to the Northwestern Motorway, under Symonds Street Bridge, and a severe fire broke out, fuelled by 700 litres of kerosene.

[1]: 11 The Commission found the Airwork (NZ) Operations Manual specifically addressed collision avoidance between these two aircraft:[1]: 13 5 Police Traffic Patrol 4.

The Commission recommended the Director of Civil Aviation promulgate a single advisory radio frequency for aircraft in the uncontrolled airspace between Auckland and Whenuapai Control Zones, which he did.