Wirestrike pilot found negligent

Press, 19 December 1985, Page 1

Wirestrike pilot found negligent

PA Palmerston North The Royal New Zealand Air Force pilot whose Strikemaster was destroyed in a wirestrike in July was guilty of negligently causing his aircraft to be lost, a court-martial at Ohakea found yesterday. Pilot Officer Peter Alan Lindsay, aged 22, of Levin, was sentenced to 12 months loss of seniority and will get a severe reprimand. The finding and sentence are both subject to confirmation by the court-martial convening officer. Pilot Officer Lindsay was on a low-level navigation exercise when his aircraft struck power lines near Waiaii, in North Canterbury, on July 3. He ejected safely. The five-member Court did not rule on an alterna-

tive charge that his act was likely to prejudice Service discipline. Pilot Officer Lindsay had pleaded not guilty. Yesterday, the second of the court-martial, he denied being negligent and said he did his pilot’s duties to the best of his ability. His actions before the accident had been as good as could reasonably be expected of a pilot of his experience and training, he said. The president of the court-martial, Group Captain Ray Parker, and the four other members took more than three hours to return the verdict.

Group Captain Parker said the court-martial had considered the 16 days'that Pilot Officer Lindsay had spent in close arrest and the further 15 in open arrest.