‘Crash risk’ in ’Bo test flight

Press, 20 April 1982, Page 1

‘Crash risk’ in ’Bo test flight

PA Auckland The aircraft that buzzed Eden Park during the Springbok test at Auckland could have crashed into the grounds, given the conditions of the day, the District Court in Auckla’nd was told yesterday. The Civil Aviation Division’s regional director of Right standards, Mr R. Shand, told the jury that, given the low level at which the plane was flying, a crash was possible. Before ■ Judge Nicholson were Marx Jones, aged 32, a truck driver, of Herne Bay, and Grant Albert Cole, aged 19, freight operator, of Westmere. The two defendants have pleaded not guilty to 11 charges, including eight each of assault, arising from incidents on September 12. They face one charge of operating a Cessna 172 aircraft in such a manner as to cause unnecessary danger to people or property; one of flying a Cessna 172 aircraft over a populous area at less than 1000 feet; and one of committing, a criminal nuisance by dropping diverse articles from an aircraft in flight, knowing it would endanger public safety. They are also charged

with assaulting Kenneth Neville Bluck, Gary Raymond Chown. Harold John McConnell, Gary Albert Knight, Stephen Ashley Rigg, Amanda Lisa Fisher, Athol Joseph Fish, and Murray Lewis Wilkinson.

Before the jury was empanelled, Judge Nicholson asked any jurors who had been at or near Eden Park on the day of the test between New Zealand and South Africa to come forward. “It is essential I do what I can to provide an impartial jury for the trial,” he said. The Crown prosecutor, Mr David Morris, said it was alleged that Jones was the pilot of the plane and Cole a passenger in the flight over Eden Park. “Their actions were not only extremely foolish and thoughtless, but criminal," he said. Mr Shand said that he was a passenger in a helicopter provided by the Ministry of Transport to survey the area during the test.

The Director of Civil Aviation had ruled the area in the vicinity of Eden Park restricted on the day of the test and any aircraft flying there required approval. The helicopter began

following the Cessna when it arrived at Eden Park and identified it as one belonging to the North Shore Aero Club. Mr Shand said that the pilot of the aircraft was threatening to land on Eden Park.

A number of items were thrown from the aircraft, including more than 50 flour bombs, flares, smoke bombs, incendiary devices, and leaflets. '

The aircraft was flying at levels of down to 60ft when the limit was 1000 ft.

The helicopter followed the plane back to Dairy Flat, where it landed and was met by a group of people. A part-time flying instructor at the North Shore Aero Club, Mr Christopher Loftus, said that Jones called at the club to take out the Cessna about 1.15-p.m. on September 12.

Mr Loftus said that Jones told him he wanted to go on a local flight and would probably head north.

Mr Loftus said that he had previously flown with Jones on a charter flight to Great Barrier Island. For the Crown. Mr Morris is assisted by Mr Phillip Morgan.