Missing pilot criticised for not using beacon

Press, 2 June 1989, Page 1

Missing pilot criticised for not using beacon

By

BARRY CLARKE

Search and rescue officials have criticised an experienced West Coast helicopter pilot who sparked a full-scale search by failing to set off an emergency beacon after running out of fuel in the Southern Alps on Wednesday. Mr Dave Mclllroy, aged 38, of Greymouth, and his passenger, Mr Bruce McDonald, aged 28, of Arahura Valley, walked out of the Cox River Valley area near Arthur’s Pass last evening. The Robinson R 22 helicopter landed shortly after 4 p.m. on Wednesday at the head of the Cox River Valley after running out of fuel.

The pair were returning to the West Coast from a deerhunting trip. They spent a freezing night in the open, but were fit and well when found on their way to the Mount White station.

Messrs Mclllroy and McDonald had walked for IP/2 hours aware several helicopters were searching, but were unable to signal to them.

A search and rescue coordinator, Mr Terry Knight,

said they would have been found sooner if they had carried the beacon with them.

Mr Mclllroy said last evening that he left the beacon turned off in the disabled helicopter because he believed they would reach the Mount White station before a search began. But Mr Knight said Mr Mclllroy should have set the beacon off and taken it with him.

“What he did was exactly the wrong thing to do. It would have saved us a lot of time and effort If he did what he was supposed to have done,” he said.

Seven helicopters, including two Iroquois from Wigram, and an R.N.Z.A.F. Friendship, were used yesterday. The aerial search covered 200 square nautical miles, concentrating at first on the Otira area, east to Craigieburn Valley and north to Harper Pass.

The emphasis switched to the Cox River Valley late yesterday, after information was received that the helicopter was likely to fly via that route back to the West Coast.

Mr Mclllroy said he thought he had enough fuel, but miscalculated a strong head wind. “There was no problem putting down. We decided to walk out, but after about three hours it got dark and foggy,” he said. “We thought it was better to stay put and continue the following morning.” The pair rested under a tree, trying to sleep in 15cm of snow. They had no food or blankets.

“I couldn’t sleep. It was too cold and wet. I was wet up to my waist,” said Mr Mclllroy. “It was the coldest night of my life. I wouldn’t want to do it again. She was a long night. We tried to curl up and sleep, but you couldn’t really.” Messrs Mclllroy and McDonald continued to a hut yesterday morning, eating rice they found there for breakfast.

They stopped at another hut for a rest before being picked up at 5.15 p.m. “We’re a bit sore, but pretty good, really,” Mr Mclllroy said. The pair stayed overnight at the Mount White station and were to go back to refuel the helicopter this morning.