Crash pilot 'should not have flown solo'

The pilot of a plane that crashed into Mt Tauhara near Taupo should not have been flying solo because of a heart condition, an inquest has been told.

The crash, on February 2, 2005, killed Australian businessman Bernard Lewis, his wife, Christine, and pilot Steven Brown, of Auckland.

The Lewises' son, Mark, told the inquest in Rotorua yesterday that his parents' deaths were avoidable and the result of "no single event or action" but a "significant chain of events and circumstances" made by Mr Brown, Christian Aviation, which chartered the plane, and Civil Aviation.

Mr Brown had shown poor airmanship, and Christian Aviation gross negligence in events leading up to the crash, while Civil Aviation had placed "money before safety" in ignoring recommendations to adopt international medical certification standards for all pilots, Mr Lewis, 45, said.

It was unknown why Mr Brown was 3½ nautical miles, or 30 degrees, off course from the approach path to Taupo Airport when the Piper Seneca plane hit the mountain, killing all three occupants on impact.

"There was not only a string of poor decisions on the day but also significant lack of supervision by Christian Aviation, poor attitude to safety by Civil Aviation and gross lack of airmanship by the pilot."

Mark Lewis, a former Royal Australian Air Force pilot with 15 years' experience, said the autopsy on Mr Brown showed his aortic valve was damaged, and his heart condition would have restricted him from flying as a solo pilot if he was working in the United States or Europe.

Mr Lewis said Civil Aviation had ignored placing restrictions on Mr Brown's flying.

His parents had set out with Mr Brown for Kerikeri from Ardmore earlier in the day but were unable to land on two attempts because of weather conditions.

Mr Brown's father, David, a director of Christian Aviation, told the inquest the flight should not have taken off, but it was the pilot's decision to do so.

Mr Brown flew south from Kerikeri to Taupo, where the Lewises were booked to stay at Huka Lodge.

About 11.30, as the plane approached Taupo, the emergency locator beacon was activated. Police found the wreckage, with three bodies inside, on the northwest side of Mt Tauhara about 2.10pm.

All three had suffered severe head injuries and both wings of the plane had been torn off on impact.

Mr Brown's body was found in his pilot's seat "encased" in dirt and debris, Detective Sergeant Kevan Verry told the inquest.

The autopsy showed traces of alcohol and cannabis in his body, but it was not possible to determine whether Mr Brown was affected by these drugs at the time of the crash, he said.

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Mr Brown's wife, Lorna, told the inquest her husband was against drug use and she had never seen him use cannabis.

Coroner Wallace Bain adjourned the inquest for further investigation of evidence.

Source:  http://www.stuff.co.nz