Crash inquiry may be public

Press, 6 December 1985, Page 2

Crash inquiry may be public

PA Nelson A public inquiry may be held into the Air Albatross crash which killed eight people early in October, but the decision will rest with the Attorney-General, Mr Palmer. The Chief Inspector of Air Accidents, Mr Ron Chippindale, said yesterday that he had sent a brief synopsis of the Tory Channel crash to Mr Palmer’s office late last week. Under the Civil Aviation Accident Regulations, 1978, he was required to do so in the event of “any accident of some public interest,” Mr Chippindale said. Such a synopsis was given to briefly tell the AttorneyGeneral the facts and circumstances of the accident to enable him to decide if a public inquiry should be held, he said.

Mr Palmer is in Australia, but his private secretary, Mr Howard Davies, said Mr Palmer had referred the report to the Crown Law Office for its consideration and Mr Palmer would make his decision once that reply had been received. Mr Chippindale said that he and his team, which has numbered up to six people, were nearing the end of their inquiry into the accident. Should Mr Palmer decide against a public inquiry, the parties involved in the crash will have 2 to 2% months to study Mr Chippindales’s findings and make submissions on them. Mr Chippindale will then review the submissions, finalise his report, and send it to the Minister of Transport, Mr Prebble.