VISCOUNT CRASH IN AUSTRALIA

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27639, 21 April 1955, Page 8

VISCOUNT CRASH IN AUSTRALIA

CORONER CRITICISES PILOT’S TRAINING (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) MELBOURNE, April 20. The coroner who investigated the deaths of three pilots in the Vickers Viscount crash in October, 1954, yesterday criticised methods of instruction to aircrews. Mr J. Bell, S.M., as Coroner, said Trans-Australia Airlines should not have permitted a pilot with only a few hours of Vickers Viscount experience to instruct the crew. The Coroner said he had to come to the conclusion that Captain Macdonald had not been permitted to gain sufficient experience to become conversant with this type of plane before he was appointed check and training pilot. The evidence was that Captain Macdonald had had only three practice take-offs with three engines before the tragedy. The Coroner said he could find no evidence of criminal negligence or any evidence of neglect "which would entitle me to say the deaths were due to misadventure.” (In some Australian states it is now the practice to give a finding of misadventure only where there is evidence of negligence. He also criticised the fire-fighting training and. equipment at Mangalore aerodrome, but added that the delay in extinguishing the fire did not cause the deaths of any of the men.