Australian Worst in 40 years
In reply to Powderpuff and 601 - post 660
Coroner to hear evidence on air crash
by: Padraic Murphy
From: The Australian
June 04, 2007 12:00AM
QUEENSLAND state Coroner Michael Barnes arrived on Thursday Island yesterday to launch an investigation into Australia's worst airline disaster in 40 years.
The inquest, which involves four days of public hearings on Thursday Island from today, is expected to hear from three police and four safety investigators who will give evidence about the May 2005 crash near Lockhart River in north Queensland in which 15 people died.
Representatives from Transair, the plane's operators, are not expected to be questioned until the inquest resumes in Brisbane later in the year.
All 15 people aboard the Fairchild Metroliner were killed when the plane slammed into a hill.
The tragedy, which has already been blamed by air safety investigators on pilot error and poor safety standards of the airline's operators, Transair, is being investigated by Mr Barnes, who has the power to recommend criminal charges.
Family members of many of the dead from Bamaga near the tip of Cape York are expected to arrive on Thursday Island today to attend the public hearings.
The first witnesses are expected to be three police detectives who arrived at the crash site, followed by rescue workers.
The inquest is expected to further strain relations between the airline and the relatives of those who died.
Last month, family members from Bamaga lodged claims seeking up to $500,000 in damages under the Civil Aviation Act.
The claims were lodged -- on behalf of the families of victims Gordon Kris, 37, Helena Woosup, 25, Mardie Bowie, 30, Fred Bowie, 25, and Frank Billy, 21 -- in the Queensland Supreme Court against the insurer of Lessbrook Pty Ltd, trading asTransair, which is now in liquidation.
In April, an investigation by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau blamed the tragedy on pilot error and a poor safety culture at the aircraft's operator, Transair.
The report found Transair pilots in Cairns effectively supervised themselves and that their operations manuals lacked key elements such as criteria for making a stabilised approach essential for safe landings.
"Transair's safety management and culture were poor," ATSB executive director Kym Bills told The Australian in April.
Mr Bills said the airline's chief pilot was over-committed with roles as managing director, chief executive, primary check and training pilot.
Coroner