Crash inquiry may take a year

BY MICHAEL FOX

It could be more than a year before the cause of New Zealand's worst aviation disaster in 17 years is known.

Nine people were killed in the crash at Fox Glacier on Saturday, when the plane they were in crashed and burst into flames shortly after takeoff. Their bodies were removed yesterday and taken to Auckland for autopsies.

The plane was carrying a party of skydivers and clients from Skydive New Zealand.

Police named the victims as pilot Chaminda Senadhira, 33, from Queenstown, and dive masters Adam Bennett, 47, from Australia but living in Motueka, Michael Suter, 32, from New Plymouth, Christopher McDonald, 62, from Mapua, and Rodney Miller, 55, from Greymouth.

Also killed were tourists Patrick Byrne, 26, from Ireland, Glenn Bourke, 18, from Australia, Annita Kirsten, 23, from Germany, and Brad Coker, 24, from England.

A team of six Transport Accident Investigation Commission investigators are working on the case. Team boss Ian McClelland refused to speculate on the crash's cause. The investigation could take more than a year to complete.

Skydive New Zealand co-owner John Kerr said he was "absolutely devastated and numbed" by the crash which claimed the lives of more than a third of his staff – a group with a perfect safety record and nearly 35,000 jumps between them.

New Zealand Parachute Industry Association chairman Stuart Bean said there was still no indication as to what had caused the crash which claimed the life of his best friend – Mr Miller. The pair had skydived together for 25 years.

"I'm staying with Rod's family and just helping out where I can – [they're] devastated."

He was a "good operator, very safety conscious and "loved by everybody".

"It's a tragic loss in the industry."

Staff were considering the business's future, he said. "We have no idea what or why and how – it's just a tragic loss."

Members of the tight-knit aviation community are refusing to speculate on what might have caused the accident.

Aviation commentator Les Raine said he had formed his own opinion after reviewing footage but refused to elaborate.

However, he said it was unlikely there was anything wrong with the plane – a Fletcher's SU24 fixed wing aircraft that was a converted cropduster.

"They're an extremely safe aircraft – there's nothing wrong with that aeroplane."

There was a "handful" being used as skydiving planes around the country, he said. It would have logged "many thousands and, dare I say it, millions" of flying hours as a cropduster – a particularly demanding role.

As the sky-diving industry increased in size, planes were bigger and could carry more people, meaning "the risk is bigger and the fatalities become larger as well".

Mr Raine knew Mr Senadhira and said he died "doing what he loved".

New regulations set to be introduced by next October will ensure more stringent safety and maintenance checks are carried out by commercial adventure aviation operators.

New Zealand Skydiving Association chief executive Gareth Jacobs said he could not say whether the new regulations might have prevented yesterday's accident.

"To guess the cause of the accident at the moment would be pure speculation. There's no reason to suspect it was a maintenance issue with the aeroplane."

The accident would have repercussions for the industry, he said.

DEATHS HIT FAMILIES, AVIATION INDUSTRY HARD

Nine families, the aviation community and the township of Fox Glacier have been left reeling by the deaths.

Family and friends were yesterday paying tribute.

Robyn Jacobs, wife of Skydive New Zealand director Rod Miller who was killed in the crash, expressed her sympathy for the other families affected.

"All I can say is my heart goes out to the families of our clients ... our family has suffered a huge tragedy, it's a huge loss."

Wakatipu Aero Club president Peter Daniels said pilot Chaminda Senadhira was one of the most experienced skydive pilots in the business.

"It's distressing because of the number of deaths, but it would not have been caused by any inexperience on the part of Chami." He is survived by wife Nina, and a daughter, 5, from a previous relationship.

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

Irish newspaper The Independent said 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 could not bring themselves to believe the news. "He was such a friendly, likable young person. He was quiet and unassuming and loved by everyone.

"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.

Westland District Council Mayor Maureen Pugh said the small community had been rocked by the tragedy. The town was rallying together to support the overseas families affected by the crash.

DEADLY IMPACTS

- Saturday'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 at Franz Josef Glacier.

- Another air disaster on the West Coast claimed the lives of seven people the following October, when a sightseeing helicopter crashed near Fox Glacier.

- © Fairfax NZ News