Nine dead as plane crashes in fireball

The Queenstown pilot at the controls of the plane that crashed at Fox Glacier yesterday, killing nine people, was a veteran skydive pilot with thousands of hours of experience, says a former employer.

The accident happened when the plane, carrying a party of skydivers and clients from Skydive New Zealand, crashed in a ball of flames at the edge of the runway just after take-off at 1.15pm.

The dead have been named as 33-year-old Chaminda Senadhira from Queenstown, Director of Skydive New Zealand, 55-year-old Rod Miller, from Greymouth, skydive masters Adam Bennett, 47, from Motueka, Michael Suter, 32, from New Plymouth, Christopher McDonald, 62, from Mapua, tourists Patrick Byrne, 26, from County Wexford, Ireland, Glenn Bourke, 18, from Coburg, Victoria, Australia, Annita Kirsten, 23, from Germany, and Brad Coker, 24, from Farnborough, England.

Air investigators have warned it could be more than a year before a full report into the cause of the accident is made public.

Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) air accident investigator Ian McClelland said a team of six investigators has flown to the crash site.
 
Speaking at a media conference at Christchurch Airport, he declined to comment on what caused the accident.
 
"We are not going to speculate on causes at this stage."
 
"What we do know at this stage was obviously the aircraft was taking off with a full compliment of jumpers...and that the aeroplane impacted on the ground very close to the runway itself."

Given the "large scale destruction" of the scene the TAIC investigators could be limited by what they could obtain from the crash site, Mr McClelland said.
 
The plane involved in the accident, a Fletchers fixed wing, was "very common" and of "rugged construction", he said.

VETERAN PILOT

New Zealand Skydive Auckland operations manager Erica Coyle yesterday said Mr Senadhira, widely known as 'Chami', trained at the company's Mercer base before moving south.

''We don't know what happened, but he would've been fighting to keep that plane in the air right until the end,'' she said.

The deaths have rocked the close-knit community of pilots and skydivers throughout the country.

Wakatipu Aero Club president Peter Daniels  said Mr Senadhira had been a well respected social member of the club for about four years.

''He was probably one of the most experienced skydive pilots in the business,'' he said.

''Here in Queenstown those guys are flying a lot of trips almost every day.''

Mr Senadhira would attend most functions, Mr Daniels said.

''Work kept him really busy, but he'd come around for a cup of tea. He also did his renewals for his own private flying with one of our instructors, and used us for ongoing safety audits.''

The accident had shaken many club members.

''It's distressing because of the number of deaths, but it would not have been caused by any inexperience on the part of Chami,'' Mr Daniels said.

Mr Senadhira is survived by his wife Nina, and a five year old daughter from a previous relationship.

Mrs Senadhira is believed to overseas.

Originally from Sri Lanka, Mr Senadhira moved to Germany when he was seven. At the age of 22 he moved to New Zealand to train as a pilot.

Mr Senadhira showed such promise as a trainee pilot that NZ Skydive kept him on at Mercer, Ms Coyle said.

''He was one of the best ''jump'' pilots out there. It's a small industry where everyone knows everyone, so it's something that will be felt throughout the whole skydive community.''

Mr Senadhira was believed to be working for Skydive New Zealand at the time of his death.

Irishman Patrick Byrne has been described as a "likeable young person" and a talented sportsman.

UK newspaper The Irish Independent said grieving neighbours and friends had visited the family home, and huddled together as news of Mr Byrne's death reached them.

One friend told The Independent they couldn't bring themselves to believe the news.

"I just can't believe that he's gone like that. He was loved by everyone in the locality, for he was quiet and unassuming and loved by everyone.

"He was always happy. He always had a smile on his face and wanted to have the craic with others as well.

"He looked upon life as precious, while he also loved travelling, which is what took him to New Zealand."

A former hurling coach described Mr Byrne as an "outstanding" sportsman.

"He was well known and loved in the locality and known by everyone, young and old. This has come as a great shock to the area."

The repatriation of Mr Byrne's body was being organised by the Irish Embassy in Australia.

Michael Suter's Facebook site says he had been an employee of Skydive New Zealand since 2007.

"Just tryin' to have as much fun as I can in this crazy time we call life," he wrote on his profile.

Glenn Bourke, the young Australian killed, had been on a holiday in New Zealand with his girlfriend.

On his Facebook page, he wrote about visiting Rotorua and Taupo, going bungy jumping and seeing killer whales.

"Most amazing holiday ever," he wrote.

TOWN DEVASTATED

The crash has devastated the small South Island community of Fox Glacier, which lost five of its residents in the crash.

The Fletcher FU24 crashed about 50m from the home of the volunteer fire brigade chief officer John Sullivan.

"It burst into flames on impact, I didn't see any sign of smoke or fire before then," Mr Sullivan said.

"I ran straight out there and did a quick 360 around the whole thing (but) by that time it was in flames. I thought that maybe if someone had been thrown clear on impact or if they'd tried to jump out in the air then there might have been something I could have done, but looking around the whole area there was no sign of life."

Mr Sullivan said the entire town would be affected by the tragedy. He had known Mr Miller for years, and had met Mr Senadhira a few times.

Patricia Benson, a resident of Fox Glacier, said she heard a loud bang at 1.30pm and looked to see huge plumes of dark black smoke. She said the plane had crashed off the edge of the runway and burst into flames.

"There was a lot of fire. I'd be amazed if anybody could survive that... I just don't think it is possible that you could survive that."

A spokesman at the Fox Glacier Inn said many residents had been at the airstrip trying to help where they could.

"It's a small town and everyone knows everyone," he said.

Westland District Mayor Maureen Pugh called the event tragic. "It's going to be a heartbreaking day for everyone. My heart goes home to family and friends."

DEADLY IMPACTS

Yesterday's crash was the worst New Zealand air crash in nearly 17 years.

Nine people also died in a plane crash in October 1993, when a twin-engine Nomad 22 crashed in a severely crevassed and pinnacled area of Franz Josef Glacier. The two pilots and seven passengers on board were all killed on impact.

Another air disaster on the West Coast claimed the lives of seven people the following October, when a Helicopter Line Squirrel helicopter on a sightseeing flight crashed in a mountainous area near Fox Glacier.

- by GRANT BRYANT, KIRSTY JOHNSTON, MICHAEL FOX and CLIO FRANCIS, with NZPA