Inquiry hears from inspector

Press, 23 September 1988, Page 6

Inquiry hears from inspector

PA Wellington New Zealand’s first public inquiry into an aircraft accident since the 1979 Mount Erebus aircraft disaster entered its twelfth day yesterday with the evidence of an inspector of air accidents. Mr Dmitri Zotov, the inspector who made the preliminary investigation into last November’s Skyferry accident, presented supplementary evidence and was cross-examined yesterday. The Court of Inquiry into the Skyferry accident was ordered by the Attor-ney-General, Mr Palmer, after receiving a report from the Chief Inspector of Air Accidents, Mr Ron Chippindale. Mr Zotov’s preliminary study has been suppressed by the Court since its preliminary hearing. In presenting his sup-

plementary evidence, Mr Zotov defended himself against criticisms of his investigation. He said in earlier evidence that his investigation was conducted only to a preliminary stage because the Attorney-Gen-eral directed a public inquiry. He also presented the Court with notes he had taken of conversations with various Civil Aviation Division staff. Under cross-examina-tion by Mr John Wild, representing Skyferry, Mr Zotov agreed that some statements in his preliminary study were his opinion as opposed to fact. He told the Court that had the investigation followed its course before an inquiry was called, the opinion would have been moved to the appropriate section of the Air Accidents Report. 4