The daughter of a couple killed in the 2012 Carterton balloon crash has told of seeing a flash and hearing a crack when it hit powerlines, and then of screaming for help.
Policemen at the site of the crash near Carterton in 2012. Photo: AFP
Bronwyn Brewster has been giving evidence at an inquest into the January 2012 crash which started in the Wellington Coroner's Court on Monday.
Her parents, Desmond and Ann Dean were among the 11 people on board, and Ms Brewster was close to the balloon when it hit the powerlines.
"There was a big flash of light, a big crack sound when the basket his the power line, then the end of the basket caught on fire," Ms Brewster said.
"The basket was hooked under the power line. The power cable was on top of the basket.
"There was a big bend in the cable. I could see the pressure on it. The cable then broke, which freed the balloon.
"By this time the basket was burning quite hard from Lance's end."
Earlier, Detective Inspector Sean Hansen told the court the level of THC, the active ingredient of cannabis, found in Mr Hopping's blood was consistent with him having smoked the equivalent of a single cannabis cigarette within the five hours prior to his death.
However, the degree of trauma Mr Hopping had suffered in the crash meant the toxicologist could not be confident the level of THC found in the blood accurately reflected what was present at the time of death.
Ms Brewster and her daughter would give evidence they had seen Mr Hopping smoking on a balcony overlooking the briefing area before the flight briefing, Mr Hansen said.
Mr Hopping's partner and a close associate have both admitted he was a long-term drug user.
Coroner Peter Ryan is hearing the inquest, which claimed the lives of pilot Lance Hopping, 53, of Masterton; Howard Cox, 71, and Diana Cox, 63, of Wellington; Desmond Dean, 70, and Ann Dean, 65, of Masterton; cousins Valerie Bennett, 70, of Masterton, and Denise Dellabarca, 58, of Paraparaumu; partners Stephen Hopkirk, 50, and Belinda Harter, 49 of Lower Hutt; and young Wellington couple Johannes (Chrisjan) Jordann, 21, and Alexis Still, 19.
Family members and friends of those who died have packed the court's public gallery.
Before Monday's hearing, Mr Ryan spent about half an hour in a private meeting with the families, preparing them for the inquest process.
Once the court was in session he said the purpose was not to establish civil, criminal or disciplinary liability but rather to look at what happened and why, and whether recommendations could be made.
The crash has already been the subject of several investigations, including one that concluded the pilot had cannabis in his system and failed to meet his health and safety obligations.
Before Monday's hearing, Mr Ryan spent about half an hour in a private meeting with the families, preparing them for the inquest process.
Once the court was in session he said the purpose was not to establish civil, criminal or disciplinary liability but rather to look at what happened and why, and whether recommendations could be made.
