DC10 film shot by passengers helps inquiry

Press, 27 December 1979, Page 2

DC10 film shot by passengers helps inquiry

Camera film shot by passengers aboard the DCIO 'which crashed on Mount Ere- ! bus on November 28 is being ■ processed to see what it ! might add to the crash ' inquiry. j Most of the processing had [been done, but had brought I nothing fresh to light, said [the Chief Inspector of Air Accidents (Mr R. Chippin- : dale) yesterday. "We do not expect to find out anything unusual,” he said. ' The results of the processing would be included in an interim report on the ■ crash expected to be released ;at the end of February to! 'directly interested parties! land those “which could be [considered blameworthy.” ■ The processing of film [shot by passenger victims of; air crashes was a routine i matter, Mr Chippindale said.! j Most of the processing has'

■ been done at Wellington, and ) some at Auckland. A report •on one film damaged by ; I light interference was still awaited, but was not exi pected to add anything new. The results would be sup- ' porting data to help de.ter- : mine which of several I theories were correct. Mr Chippindale said. So far film ■ processing supported the! theory that the aircraft ap-j 1 proached Mount Erebus j ' from the north, but was "on! the right track." Some sections of the ; interim report were finished, most of the “essential j facts” had been collated, he J said. ■!. Only the final report, jwhich was. still “months away,” would contain the deI tailed analysis of information . I stored in the cockpit voice I recorder and the flight data J recorder, he said.