A skydiving tutor has been cleared of blame in the death of an American man in a skydiving accident at Bridge Pa, despite a report alleging many rule breaches.
At an inquest yesterday, Hastings coroner Peter Dennehy ruled the death of 46-year-old Ralph Oliver had been caused by multiple injuries he
received from a parachute jump at the Bridge Pa aerodrome south of Hastings on December 28, 2001.
Mr Oliver, a Wellingtonian originally from the United States, had jumped from a plane at a height of about 13,000 feet, following Skydive Wellington tutor Martin Lloyd.
Mr Oliver followed Mr Lloyd down, but made an intentional left-hand turn downwind at a height of between 150-300 feet, increasing his speed. He then attempted to turn back into the wind, but was at insufficient altitude, and hit the ground.
Mr Oliver was unconscious and an ambulance was called, but resuscitation attempts failed.
The jump was his fifth as part of a 25-jump accelerated free-fall programme.
A New Zealand Parachute Federation (NZPF) fatality report alleged Mr Lloyd had breached several Civil Aviation Authority and NZPF regulations.
Report author Andy Pine alleged the windspeed was too high for Mr Oliver to jump, and that Mr Lloyd breached equipment regulations, used an incorrect ground marker and had Mr Oliver jump from too great an altitude. He was also critical of training procedures and some actions taken immediately following Mr Oliver's accident.
However, a police investigation dismissed Mr Pine's concerns, saying criminal liability could not be attached to Mr Lloyd's actions, and that Mr Oliver's decision to make low-altitude turns was the main factor in his death.
At the inquest, Mr Lloyd said he felt Mr Pine's report was unfair, and had been taken "from one particular angle".
Mr Oliver had followed him for most of the jump, but the problems were caused when he made the decision not to land in the same way, he said.
"They (students) are taught that at the end they make the decision - unfortunately, it was the wrong decision," Mr Lloyd said.
Mr Dennehy accepted Mr Lloyd had done all he could to prevent Mr Oliver's death, and that while he had successfully negotiated the wind change, he had been unable to communicate this to his student.
