Jet crash inquiry may take fortnight

Press, 26 October 1989, Page 3

Jet crash inquiry may take fortnight

By

DAVE WILSON

The cause of Tuesday’s fatal Skyhawk crash at Ohakea may not be determined by the Air Force court of inquiry for two weeks. The court convened yesterday under, the presidency of Wing Commander' Bruce Ferguson of R.N.Z.A.F. Base Auckland. A training video which captured the crash will be crucial evidence. Flying Officer, Graham Carter, of Hawarden, died after his Skyhawk, one of the six-member Kiwi Red aerobatic team, collided with another jet during an aerobatic manoeuvre 1000 ft above Ohakea. Ohakea’s base information officer, Squardron Leader Andy Anderson, said all Kiwi Red aerobatic routines over the base were routinely videotaped to help team members evaluate their performances. The crash has been filmed and would be key evidence he said. Flying Officer Carter's funeral will be held at Ohakea tomorrow. Squadron Leader Anderson said this was at the request of the pilot’s family. Although investigations into the

cause of the accident aire continuing, witnesses’ reports indicated that Flying Officer Carter may . have died instantly when his jet flew into the belly of another Skyhawk. The six Skyhawks were performing a manoeuvre known as the “roll-under break” when Flying Officer Carter’s aircraft struck the undersurface of another plane. His aircraft’s cockpit and nose section were destroyed in the impact before the jet plunged to the airfield about four seconds later. The Kiwi Red team will be back in the air today for a brief practice session, but Squadron Leader Anderson said he doubted if the “roll-under break” manoeuvre would be part of the routine. “The idea is to just get them up in the air again, to get used to flying again after the tragedy.” A replacement pilot for Flying Officer Carter in the aerobatic team was announced yesterday. He is Flying Officer Craig Mitchell, aged 28, who joined 75 Squadron early this year. Flying Officer Mitchell is the ground commentator for Kiwi Red aerobatic displays.