An unsolicited email received overnight by the family of a pilot killed during a mid air collision over Paraparaumu in 2008 said the aerial move done by the pilot was unsafe.
Wellington Regional coroner Ian Smith is hearing the inquest into the deaths of Bevan Hookway, 17, who was on his fifth hour of solo flight when his plane collided with the helicopter flown by James Taylor, 19. Mr Taylor was with examiner David Fielding, 30, doing a final flight test.
All three men died after the helicopter fell into the Paraparaumu Placemakers store on February 17, 2008 while the plane crashed into Dennis Taylor Drive.
In an email read out at the inquest today, Massey University School of Aviation professional programmes manager Frank Sharp, a former leader of the Kiwi Red Skyhawk aerobatic team, called the aerial manoeuvre done by a Cessna pilot unsafe.
Jan Fielding, mother of David Fielding, read out the unsolicited email and told the coroner it was received last night.
Mr Hookway had been performing an overhead join in preparation for landing at Paraparaumu airport.
Criticism of the manoeuvre has also come from highly experienced rescue pilot John Funnell.
Mr Sharp said the overhead join was unsafe and not used in Australia or the United States.
He said he supported Mr Funnell's view.
Mr Sharp also said in his view the two pilots never saw each other for a variety of reasons including their positions, lighting, focus of their tasks and the limitations of their sight due to aircraft configuration.
He also said a Transport Accident Investigation Commission report including calculations of airspeed were incorrect and the aircraft were going faster than TAIC reported.
The inquest is expected to hear from flight instructors today.
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