Inquiry into crash continuing

Press, 28 November 1980, Page 13

Inquiry into crash continuing

The appointment of Mr Justice Mahon as a one- 1 man Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Mt | Erebus crash of the Air New Zealand DC-10 on | November 28,1979, was announced by the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) on April 21,1980. ; He began his work in Auckland on July 7. Counsel assisting the inquiry was Mr W. D. Baragwanath. The commission was expected to report by October 31 but an extension of time was given to December 31. On June 19. before the first hearing convened, | a report was issued on the disaster by the Chief f Inspector of Air Accidents in New Zealand (Mr j R. Chippindale). ! The report contained this opinion: “The probable j cause of the accident was the decision of the captain to continue the flight at low level towards an 1 area of poor surface and horizon definition when 1 the crew were not certain of their position, and ] the subsequent inability to detect the rising 1 terrain which intercepted the aircraft’s flight 1 path.” I When the inquiry began Mr Baragwanath said: f “It is devoutly to be hoped that from this hob'- 1 day flight to the ice, which turned so suddenly | into disaster, there may be benefit to others.” I Mr Justice Mahon and Mr Baragwanath carried I their investigation overseas on October 22 when I they visited the McDonnell Douglas Corporation J --the maker of the DC-10—-at Longbeach, Cali- ’ fornia; and in the United States they took depo- 5 sitions from five United States Navy witnesses I who were at McMurdo Sound at the time of the ! crash. They gave evidence about radar and radio 1 contacts with the crashed aircraft I Going on to the United Kingdom, the commfs- 1 sicn spent time with the Chief Inspector of Air 1 Accidents there (Mr W. H. Tench) and mem- 1 bers of his staff. 1 The commission resumed its hearings in Auckland on November 19. It has broken for a visit to Antarctica which began on Wednesday of this week and will finish on Sunday. ; -