Pilot’s wife testifies in air crash case

Press, 17 July 1981, Page 4

Pilot’s wife testifies in air crash case

The wife of a Mid-Canter-bury farmer charged with manslaughter yesterday denied that the aircraft he was flying made a steep climb shortly before the machine went ' out of control and crashed, killing a passenger. The evidence was given in the High Court at Timaru on the ninth day of the trial of Geoffrey lan Royds. aged 43. who has denied charges arising from the crash at Eiffelton in May last year.

Mary Almond Royds said the aircraft had made a normal climb and bank to the right before she saw it suddenly change direction and fall from her view. Under cross-examination. Mrs Royds said she had been unable to estimate the height of the aircraft before it started to climb. Mrs Royds said she was unable to demonstrate, the sudden change of direction taken by the aircraft because it had not been normal and she had not been expecting it.

Ralph Winston Lovett, a farmer, of Eiffelton, told Mr Justice Hardie-Boys and the jury that he had seen the aircraft at a "lowish" level as be was driving to his farm. He saw the aircraft make a steep right bank then suddenly the left wing dropped and the machine disappeared from his view. Mr Lovett said he had seen the accused's aircraft flying in the area on many occasions and had never seen it so low. Gavin Ogilvie, a registered engineer, of Christchurch, gave evidence of taking detailed measurements, of obstacles. the vantage points of various onlookers, and the estimated flight path of the aircraft. He produced a plan that also showed the angle of the setting sun at the time of the accident. The trial is expected to last at least another three days. Four defence witnesses are still -to be called.