Pilot 'unaware fuel was running out'

The Japanese pilot of a light aircraft who died when it ditched off North Canterbury last November apparently did not know he had insufficient fuel to reach Christchurch.

Civil Aviation Authority safety investigator Steven Walker told an inquest into the deaths of the pilot and his passenger, also Japanese, that two refuelling opportunities were not taken.

The flight plan indicated that the trip - from Christchurch to Kaikoura to Cape Campbell to Nelson and back to Christchurch - could have been made with the fuel on board, he said.

However, a substantial diversion on the homeward route ate up the fuel reserves, according to the authority's report into the crash.

North Canterbury coroner David Crerar is conducting the inquest into the deaths of pilot Yoshikatsu Nakagaki, aged 26, and Tayuka Taira, 25, in Rangiora.

Mr Walker presented a copy of the air accident report to the court.

He said the plane did not have any lifejackets, and they were not legally required as the pilot had not planned to fly over water beyond gliding distance from the land.

"However, human factors prevailed, resulting in the aircraft being over water when the fuel was exhausted."

Mr Walker said it could be made mandatory to carry lifejackets but it was considered that the rules should not be too burdensome on operators and pilots.

The lack of a standard distress call from the pilot and the failure to set the emergency transponder code confused and delayed the search for the aircraft, said the report.

National Rescue Co-ordination Centre administration officer Raymond Parker said an internal review was initiated after the ditching to assess the performance of the centre and its links with other parties involved in the search.

The review team concluded that as long as Search and Rescue resources, and especially aircraft, were not dedicated to search and rescue operations, delays in finding suitably equipped helicopters or fixed-wing aircraft had to be accepted.

Pathologist Martin Sage said Mr Nakagaki and Mr Taira died from immersion.

Mr Nakagaki had minimal impact injuries from the crash landing.

Dr Sage said the time between the men's death and the recovery of their bodies precluded his making a reasonable diagnosis of drowning, even though that was the most likely outcome.

The sea temperature was about 13deg and conditions were rough. "In such conditions the ability to swim or stay afloat without assistance would be expected to be lost within one to two hours, well before hypothermia alone would cause death."

The hearing is continuing.

- NZPA