Erebus air investigator killed by car

NZPA

SHOCK LOSS: A file photo of former Air Accident Investigator Ron Chippendale receiving the New Zealand Special Service Medal (Erebus) from Minister Annette King. Mr Chippendale was killed when he was hit by a car in Porirua today.

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Retired chief air accident investigator Ronald Chippindale, who wrote a controversial report of the Erebus disaster, was hit and killed by a car this morning.

Mr Chippindale, 75, was struck by a car which went out of control in Porirua, north of Wellington, at 7.25am.

As chief inspector of air accidents, Mr Chippindale wrote a report on the 1979 Air New Zealand DC10 crash at Mt Erebus, Antarctica.

However Mr Chippindale's report, which blamed the crash on pilot error, was contested by a subsequent report by Justice Mahon.

In this morning's crash, an 18-year-old Porirua man allegedly lost control of his car while driving up Whitford Brown Avenue and ploughed into Mr Chippendale as he was walking on the footpath.

Mr Chippindale, who was returning to his Aotea home from his usual early morning walk, was killed instantly.

Air New Zealand Flight TE901 ploughed into the northern slopes of Mt Erebus on November 28, 1979. It killed all 237 passengers and a crew of 20, working under Captain Jim Collins.

Mr Chippindale, after a six-month inquiry as Chief Inspector of Air Accidents, blamed the aircrew.

He said Collins had erred by flying at low altitude in conditions which made it hard to define the ground and the horizon, and when the crew was not certain of their position.

However, a Royal Commission chaired by Justice Mahon, which reported a year later, fingered the airline.

On the night before the flight the flight track was changed in the plane's navigation system without the crew being told; the route went across Erebus and not over the flat sea ice of McMurdo Sound, the flight path for the earlier trips.

Mahon was also critical of the Civil Aviation Division. He caused a huge furore when he accused Air New Zealand of "a pre-determined plan of deception" and "an orchestrated litany of lies".

The Appeal Court later said these findings of Justice Mahon went beyond his jurisdiction and didn't comply with natural justice.

Almost 30 years later, debate over the primary cause of the crash continued.

Transport Accident Investigation Commission Deputy Chief Ken Matthews worked with Chippindale for eight years, and says he was very well-respected by colleagues.

"He was a very dedicated, hard-working and professional man... he did not resile from telling the truth, even in the face of opposition."

Matthews said his former boss did not actively seek a public profile, but had it "thrust apon him" by the controversial Erebus investigation in particular.

Kapiti Mana Area police commander Inspector John Spence said today that the driver involved in the crash was shaken but uninjured. 

He has been interviewed and it is likely that serious charges will follow once the investigation has been completed.

"Mr Chippindale was a keen walker and could be seen most days striding out in the Aotea and Papakowhai areas," Mr Spence said.  "The circumstances of his death are a real tragedy."

Porirua Police are appealing for witnesses to the crash.  Officers would also like to talk with a man and woman who stopped and helped the driver out of his car.  People with information are asked to contact Porirua Police on telephone:  04 238 1400.

Mr Chippindale began investigating aircraft accidents with the Royal New Zealand Airforce before transferring to the Transport Ministry.

He was appointed chief investigator of accidents when the Transport Accident Investigation Commission was set up in 1990.

Chippendale led many high profile aircraft crash inquiries, and in doing so became a familiar face in television clips of aircraft crash scenes for almost a decade.

During his eight years in the role, Chippindale led investigations into more than 400 accidents and incidents, becoming a familiar face in television clips of aircraft crash scenes for almost a decade.

He retired in November 1998.

Until recently, he taught Air Crash Investigation in a 3 paper series taught extramurally at Massey University’s School of Aviation.