Balloon tragedy: Pilot's father reminisces

Hot air balloon pilot Lance Hopping. Photo / APN

A private balloon trip with his son is the "marvellous" memory that stands out for the father of a pilot killed in a ballooning crash yesterday.

Early Morning Balloons' pilot Lance Robert Hopping, 50, and 10 passengers aboard a dawn balloon trip all died when the balloon hit power lines before bursting into flames and crashing onto Carterton farmland.

His father, Robert Hopping, was today continuing to struggle with the death of his son, who left behind a fiancee, two children and two grandchildren.

"We're going against the tide a bit, but we're still upright and swimming a bit. It's pretty tough going."

While it was hard to pick a stand-out memory from a lifetime, Mr Hopping said moments spent in the sky with his son were the most special.

"The best memory I've got was the first ride in the helicopter with him and going up in the balloon with him. They were great moments."

Lance had been ballooning for 17 years, and an early morning ride with his son was one he would not forget, he said.

"We went straight up from Carterton, straight up high early in the morning, just the two of us. We could see Mt Egmont, Mt Ruapehu, and Ngauruhoe. Also far down south, and the coast. That was marvellous. It was enjoyable, and he wanted me to see all those things. It was great."

Lance "was always interested in the air" and held a commercial pilot's licence while continuing to do odd jobs for operators, he said.

His son was an outdoorsy man who would be sorely missed by his family and friends, Mr Hopping said.

"He was very outgoing and got on very well with people. He was very conscientious in what he did and anything he took on. He was a very, very caring person."

Mr Hopping said the rest of the family were also coming to terms with their grief. Lance's son Henare and daughter Hayley were "finding it tough".

Lance's fiancee Nina Jane Kelynack, who was due to marry the pilot at Easter weekend this year, was well supported by her parents and the tight-knit community, he said.

"She seems to be a little bit brighter this afternoon, she's got good support with her family."

Mr Hopping plans to head down to Carterton tomorrow with his partner to stay with his niece, while both Henare and Hayley were due to arrive from Australia today.

He said the rest of Lance's family and friends from across the country would also travel to Carterton tomorrow before a funeral yet to be organised for later next week.

People continue to post their condolences on a Facebook tribute page set up for Lance and fellow balloon passengers.

To date, 266 have joined the 'R.I.P Lance Hopping and passengers 7/1/2012' page, posting comments such as "RIP" and "So tragic RIP, Love to Nina and family."