U.S. Expert To Aid Inquiry

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31114, 18 July 1966, Page 1

U.S. Expert To Aid Inquiry

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, July 17. A top crash investigator of the American Civil Aeronautics Board—the agency which reports on all American flying accidents—is flying to New Zealand to assist Wing Commander O. J. O’Brien, Chief Inspector of Aircraft Accidents, in his inquiry into the Air New Zealand DCB crash.

The investigator, Captain R. Richardson, of the investigations division of the board, is a flight inspector and DCS test pilot Aviation officials have refused to expand on Wing Commander O’Brien's advice on

IDCB planes after the crash. I The cautionary note on the ! training manoevre which Wing Commander O’Brien sent three days after he began work at Mangere was circulated as urgent information the next day by the Douglas Aircraft Company to all users of DCBs. It was received in Auckland Iby Air New Zealand itself as ian operator of the. jet Wing Commander O’Brien and his team will finish their ; investigations at Auckland [Airport by the end of the ■week. I Their report will then be [written for presentation to the Minister of Civil Aviation (Mr McAlpine), who will release it There was no change in the conditions of the three survivors of the crash in Middlemore Hospital tonight First Officer Kenneth Allister Sawyer is still seriously ill in the intensive care unit. Captain Bernard Joseph Wyatt and First Officer Brian Ruffell are both satisfactory.