26 Jan 2015

CAA speaks to witnesses of Timaru crash

5:43 pm on 26 January 2015

Civil Aviation Authority investigators have spoken with several people who witnessed a microlight crash near Timaru in which two people died on Friday night.

Randel Tikitiki, 51, died along with flight instructor Jack Mehlhopt, 86, when their aircraft crashed in a farm paddock soon after takeoff from Timaru Airport.

A spokesperson for the authority said one more eyewitness would be interviewed tomorrow.

The on-site examination of the aircraft wreckage had been completed and the wreckage had been removed to a secure local storage facility.

It would then be transported to Wellington for a more detailed inspection.

Pathology reports would also be reviewed but the spokesperson said at this stage there was no apparent cause.

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