The Desoutter also became famous due to its involvement in New Zealand 's first commercial air disaster , which occurred six days after the 1931 Hawke 's Bay earthquake on 8 February 1931 near Wairoa . The Desoutter belonged to Dominion Airlines and carried the identification code ZK-ACA . The small airliner had been making three round trips a day between Hastings and Gisborne , carrying passengers and supplies . All three on board were killed
1931 Hawke 's Bay earthquake
1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake
Desoutter Mk.II