MOUNT HOPE CRASH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25673, 23 October 1944, Page 4

MOUNT HOPE CRASH

FINDINGS OF INQUIRY BOARD

PILOT’S ERROR OF JUDGMENT (F.0.P.R.) WELLINGTON,. Oct. 21. The findings of the Board of Inquiry appointed to investigate and report on the accident which .'occurred; near Mount Hope, in the Nelson district, on June 30 last to aircraft ZK-AHT, •operated by Air Travel (N.Z.), Ltd., were announced to-day by the Minister in Charge of Civil Aviation, Mr F. Jones.

The board foun|i that the accident was not contributed to or related in any way to fuel supply, engine failure, or structural defect in the aircraft, but that it arose through the aircraft getting in an uncontrolled position and condition from which the pilot was unable to recover before striking the top of a forest. The ’pilot had attempted to cross the saddle at a low altitude over rough, broken country in order to avoid turbulent air conditions below the cloud base, but in the board’s opinion the condition in which the aircraft subsequently found itself could have been avoided by maintaining as much altitude as possible while crossing the saddle. Failure to adopt this course contributed substantially to the accident, and; was, in the board’s, view, an error of judgment by the pilot. \ , Reference was made to the clauses in the Air Navigation Regulations, 1933, providing for the installation in passenger-carrying aircraft of radio equipment, but - due to war-time priorities Air Travel (N.Z.), Ltd., had been unable to procure the necessary equipment, and the board considered that the company had taken every reasonable step in its effort to meet the requirements of the regulations. Moreover, the board considered that the fact that the aircraft was not equipped with radio communication apparatus did not contribute in any way to the accident. . The board did not recommend, in the particular circumstances, that the licence of the pilot should be interfered with, and drew attention to the prompt and praiseworthy steps to obtain assistance taken by ' the pilot, Flight Lieutenant Lewis, and Mr Perry, a passenger. The board also mentioned that Miss Paterson (matron .of the Buffer Hospital) was * deserving of special commendation for her courageous conduct in administering aid to other passengers, although she herself was gravely injured.