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Ron Chippendale Fatally Struck by Car

Erebus investigator killed in crash

Ron Chippindale was the chief air accident investigator who reported on the Air New Zealand DC10 crash at Mt Erebus in 1979.

Retired chief air accident investigator Mr Ronald Chippendale, who led the inquiry into the Erebus disaster, was killed this morning after being struck by a car in Wellington.

Mr Chippindale, 75, was returning to his Aotea home from his usual early morning walk when he was struck by a car which went out of control.

Mr Chippindale was killed instantly.

Inspector Spence said the car's 18-year-old driver was shaken but uninjured. He has been interviewed and it is likely that serious charges will follow once the investigation has been completed.

Mr Chippindale's investigation on Erebus was published in June 1980.

Nancy Swarbrick, writing in Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, said Mr Chippindale's report explained that at the time of the crash, the plane was flying in whiteout conditions and with the angle of the sun, it was impossible for the pilots to distinguish ground from air.

The report said the plane flew into the icy mountainside in level flight soon after the ground proximity warning had sounded. Mr Chippindale's report ruled out mechanical problems but found fault with the airline. Mr Chippindale criticised the airline for a late flight-path change that was not mentioned to the crew.

The Civil Aviation Division was also criticised for not rigorously monitoring Antarctic flights.

But the main blame was reserved for the pilots, especially the captain, who was criticised for descending to a low altitude when he was unsure of his position and unable to see the terrain.

Mr Chippindale's conclusion was strongly opposed by some, who saw it as a slur on the professionalism of the dead pilots.

Last March he was one of 22 people who received a New Zealand Special Service Medal (Erebus) at a ceremony in Wellington.

Air New Zealand flight TE901 from Auckland airport crashed into Mt Erebus on November 28, 1979, killing all 257 people on board.

It was announced in 2006 the medal would be awarded for work in what became known as Operation Overdue.

Then Police Minister Annette King said: "This medal recognises the work of extraordinary individuals who undertook the recovery, investigation and identification work in the aftermath of the Erebus disaster, an unparalleled tragedy in our history."

Inspector Spence said Mr Chippindale, who was married, lived in the Aotea subdivision not far from where the crash happened. One lane was blocked to early commuter traffic until emergency services cleared the scene.

"Mr Chippindale was a keen walker and could be seen most days striding out in the Aotea and Papakowhai areas," Inspector Spence said. "The circumstances of his death are a real tragedy."

Mr Chippindale began investigating aircraft accidents with the Royal New Zealand Airforce before transferring to the Transport Ministry.

He was appointed chief investigator of accidents when the Transport Accident Investigation Commission was set up in 1990.

Chippendale led many high profile aircraft crash inquiries, and in doing so became a familiar face in television clips of aircraft crash scenes for almost a decade.

During his eight years in the role, Chippindale led investigations into more than 400 accidents and incidents, becoming a familiar face in television clips of aircraft crash scenes for almost a decade.

He retired in November 1998.

Ron was a Fellow with the International Society of Air Safety Investigators (ISASI) and current ISASI Council member, former Chief Investigator of the New Zealand Transport Accident Investigation Commission and Chief Inspector of Accidents for its predecessor, the Office of Air Accidents Investigation. He was currently a lecturer in accident investigation at Massey University.

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