Erebus ruling sought

Press, 24 October 1984, Page 24

Erebus ruling sought

PA Auckland An Auckland businessman, Mr David Thornton, has sought a ruling from the Chief Ombudsman over his right to view confidential files on the Mount Erebus crash. Mr Thornton wants to see a statement that was made by air traffic control staff at McMurdo Station to the ’ Chief Inspector of Air Accidents, Mr Ron Chippindale, i immediately after the crash.

The statement was not produced to the Royal Commission of Inquiry, but was referred to by Mr Chippindale in his evidence. Mr Thornton said at the week-end that the file included a statement by a Mr R. A. Wilson, the operator at the McMurdo Ice Tower control centre. Mr Thornton claims Mr Wilson was not interviewed again after the statement he made to Mr Chippindale, MV Thornton began what

he called a private inquiry into the crash, after the release of Mr Peter Mahon’s report in 1981. He said he had reason to believe that the McMurdo air traffic controllers should have noted the position of the DCIO before the crash and had time to warn the captain. on Erebus,” a book by the Erebus Royal Commissioner, Mr Mahon (then Mr Justice Mahon) will be published on Thursday. V '