Dead pilot's skills 'saved passenger's life'

Adrian Mayberry

The daughter of a pilot killed in a helicopter crash near Lake Coleridge on Wednesday credits his flying with saving the life of her husband, who is in Christchurch Hospital after being pulled from the wreckage.

Nicole Sarginson's husband Nev was in passenger seat of her dad Adrian James Mayberry's Robinson R22 when it crashed into the Mistake Basin area of the Rolleston Range.

Mr Mayberry, 59, the partner of district court judge Jane Farish, died at the scene. Mr Sarginson, 45, is in a stable condition in Christchurch Hospital.

She said her dad would have made a conscious decision to ensure his passenger made it out safely.

Mr Mayberry, of Aylesbury, had picked up Mr Sarginson, a hunter, to take him from one hut to another.

Mrs Sarginson, 30, said her family were still coming to terms with Mr Mayberry's tragic death.

"He was a fantastic father. He was a huge family man," she said.

But Mrs Sarginson said the family had some relief in knowing that he died doing what he loved.

Whenever he had a chance, weather permitting, he would go flying - usually a few days a week, she said.

The father of five, and grandfather of four, had been a pilot for more than 40 years.

His son Scott Mayberry, 30, said his dad started off flying a fixed wing aircraft but once he started flying helicopters "never looked back".

He said he was never concerned about his dad flying the Robinson R22 because of how careful he was.

There have been 190 Robinson R22 crashes in New Zealand since 1985, 23 of which resulted in fatalities. Andy Mayberry, 36, said his dad was conscientious: "Meticulous in every aspect of that helicopter, servicing, everything.

He'd never use it if there was any problem, no matter how small."

Judge Farish said she was "devastated" by the death of her partner.

Mr Mayberry, a keen shooter, had been in the firearms trade for more than 25 years, establishing Shooters Supplies in Riccarton in 1986.

He also had an interest in cars and motorbikes. His funeral is planned for Wednesday.

The Civil Aviation Authority and police are investigating the crash on behalf of the coroner.

- STAR CANTERBURY