19 Aug 2009

Pilot may have been getting informal lesson, inquest told

7:03 pm on 19 August 2009

A Mexican student pilot may have been getting an informal flying lesson from his passenger before the crash that killed them in Canterbury, an inquest has been told.

Juan Carlos Cruz, 21, and his passenger Erick Garcia, 18, were killed when their single-engine plane slammed into a hillside in Canterbury before catching fire in January 2008.

The pair were on a training flight from Hokitika to Christchurch.

Mr Garcia was able to drag himself from the wreckage but died of his injuries.

A police officer told the inquest on Wednesday that the weather was good for flying that day, but Mr Cruz had deviated off-course and was flying too low.

It is thought he may have been familiarising himself with the terrain for a flight test he was to sit the next day.

The inquest was told there were problems with the search because of the rugged terrain.

John Dickson, from the Rescue Coordination Centre, says some aspects of the search could have been conducted better. He said with mountainous terrain and multiple aircraft involved, communications were difficult.

Mr Dickson said the wreckage was located around five hours after the crash.

Pathologist Martin Sage told the inquest it was likely that Mr Cruz was killed instantly, but Mr Garcia may have survived for some time after dragging himself to a stream.

Mr Sage said given his injuries, Mr Garcia showed extraordinary bravery in managing to get out of the wreckage.

The inquest, set down for three days, will call 17 witnesses.