Jet pilot ejects after crash into power lines

Press, 4 July 1985, Page 1

Jet pilot ejects after crash into power lines

By

JOHN HARFORD

A low-flying Strikemaster jet trainer struck power lines and exploded on a hillside near the Inland Kaikoura Road 35km from Waiau yesterday.

The pilot, Pilot Officer Peter Lindsay, aged 22, of Levin, ejected safely, seconds before the aircraft disintegrated in a fireball. Parts of the burning wreckage were blasted about 250 metres ahead of the point of impact, leaving an extensive smear of burnt tussock across the face of the hill. Nothing was left that could readily be identified as coming from an aircraft. Two surveyors, from the Christchurch firm of consultant engineers, Royds Sutherland McLeay, were working about 350 metres from where the biggest piece of wreckage came to rest. They were working on a realignment of the Inland Kaikoura Road. Four hours after the crash, they still could not believe what had happened and how close they came to being hit by the exploding Strikemaster. Messrs Rob Morris and Yefim Tankhilevich said three Strikemasters had been flying in the area. Royal New Zealand Air Force personnel said the jets had been flying a routine, low-level training exercise on an authorised

route. The surveyors watched the first Strikemaster make a low-level pass through a valley about 35km north of Waiau and overhead soon after 10 a.m. “The next Strikemaster (flying from the ■ south) appeared somewhat out of control. It was coming straight at us, quite low,” said Mr Morris. “It veered slightly and went straight into the hill. “There was one almighty explosion. It went twice as high as the hill,” he said. Mr Morris watched a big chunk of burning wreckage bouncing along the ground towards him. He remembered wondering if it was going to stop. Pilot Officer Lindsay parachuted on to the steep hill and tumbled downwards as the aircraft was still exploding. One piece of wreckage landed a few metres from where he stopped. He was about 50 metres from the main point of impact. Mr Morris said he saw the pilot land but did not remember seeing him eject. He ran to Pilot Officer Lindsay to see if he was all right. Mr Tankhilevich drove back along the road

to check if the Strikemaster had hit the power lines further down the valley. It had. When Mr Morris reached the pilot he was climbing out of his parachute. He was limping and badly shaken. One of the other Strikemasters circled overhead and Pilot Officer Lindsay waved his arms to indicate that he was all right. The other pilot dipped his aircraft’s wings in reply before flying away. “I talked to Peter and told him everything was going to be okay,” said Mr Morris. “He was really concerned about the plane. He kept saying ‘What are they going to say?’ and that sort of thing. “He was absolutely stunned, and shocked,” said Mr Morris. Part of the burning wreckage exploded while the men were talking. Mr Morris helped the pilot round the side of the hill, out of the way. They talked for about 30 minutes before going back to the road and climbing to a farmhouse which overlooked the valley. No-one was at the house but a door had been left

unlocked. Pilot Officer Lindsay telephoned his commanding officer and his father. Mr Tankhilevich stayed with him while Mr Morris went back to the wreck site. “I had asked him if there was anything else in the plane. He had said no, but I went to have a look just in case,” said Mr Morris. A doctor arrived at the farmhouse about 11 a.m. An Air Force helicopter arrived soon after. It took Pilot Officer Lindsay to' Wigram air base about midday. The surveyors said that the sun was low and could have been shining in the pilot’s eyes, preventing him from seeing the power lines strung across the valley. Mr Morris said a man had been planting trees further down the valley and heard a small explosion, possibly the jet hitting the power lines, seconds before the main explosion. Ministry of Energy Electricity Division staff working in the area said they would have to work through the night to repair the power lines. Equipment to make the repair was being sent from Islington yesterday afternoon.