INQUIRY INTO PORT UNDERWOOD AIR CRASH

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 October 1948, Page 6

INQUIRY INTO PORT UNDERWOOD AIR CRASH

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, This Day. That human failings, and not any defect in the aircraft or its instruments, were responsible for the crash of the National Airways Corporation Dakota near Port Underwood on August 9 was submitted in an address to the court of inquiry today by counsel for the corporation, Mr D. W. Virtue. After the remaining evidence in the inquiry had been given and brief addresses heard from counsel, the court adjourned. “The fullest investigation possible has been made and the court will submit its report to the Minister in due course,” said the chairman, Deputy Judge W. F. Stilwell. In evidence yesterday afternoon A. G. Gerrand, formerly chief pilot of National Airways, said that, as the corporation interpreted the regulations, the disconnection of dual control was not required in this case. The regulations said that unless a second qualified and licensed pilot was in the aircraft, dual control should be optional. That regulation was designed for aircraft which sometimes carried a passenger in the second seat, he submitted. The corporation’s internal regulations barred the carriage of any passengers in the co-pilot’s seat. The fact that Makgill did not have a current pilot’s licence was fully known by the corporation, said Gerrand. It was quite regular for pilots in need of experience in a particular type of flying to go on a regular run with a pilot of greater experience in charge of the aircraft.