Balloon crash report six months away

The families of those killed in last year’s Carterton balloon crash will have to wait a further six months for a final report on the tragedy.

An investigation was started by the Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) a year ago, after a balloon piloted by Lance Hopping hit power lines on January 7, 2012.

The balloon burst into flames and crashed into a paddock in Somerset Rd, just north of Carterton, killing Mr Hopping and all 10 passengers.

TAIC spokesman Peter Northcote said the investigation was now ‘‘well into the analysis stage’’, but would not be ready until ‘‘mid-year’’.

‘‘When this work is completed in the next two to three months, formal consultations will commence with the various parties involved before the commission [confirms] and releases its final report.’’

The final report was likely to include analysis of the established facts, plus recommendations on how a future tragedy could be avoided.

Lower Hutt man Bob Hopkirk, whose son, Stephen, died in the crash, said he expected some recommendations to tar- get the use of cannabis, after traces were found in Mr Hopping’s blood.

‘‘But you can make rules, and whether people stick to them is another thing.’’

Stephen Hopkirk had received the balloon ride as a 50th birthday present from his partner, Belinda Harter, who was also killed.

The families had been kept well informed by the TAIC as to the time frame, Mr Hopkirk said.

While he welcomed the final report, it would not ‘‘do much’’ for the families involved. ‘‘It’s a little bit ‘So what?’, really. We’ve got a pretty good idea of what happened, and you can use your imagination a bit, too.’’

An interim report released by the TAIC in May detailed the movements of the balloon during its flight, and used photographs and witness accounts to piece together what happened after the impact with the power lines.

It found that as the balloon prepared to land, it descended to within five metres of the ground. Relatives of some of the victims said an ‘‘isolated gust of wind’’ then caused the balloon to veer sharply toward the lines.