Microlight crash inquiry in early stages; injured man doing ‘well’

INVESTIGATORS are continuing to piece together details of the fatal microlight crash near Middlemarch last month.

The crash at Welshmans Creek on June 25 claimed the life of Otago Aero Club member Murray Barrington and injured the other occupant of the Rans S19 Venterra.

Otago Aero Club president Colin Chalmers said the injured man — also an aero club member — had been discharged from hospital and was ‘‘doing really well’’.

He did not wish to speak to media about the crash.

Mr Barrington, a 73yearold Brighton resident, was a member of the club for several years, having attained his full licence in May last year, and in 2015 gave $60,000 to restore the club’s 80yearold main hangar.

A Civil Aviation Authority spokeswoman said the investigation was in its early stages.

‘‘Our safety investigators are still in the initial stage of the investigation — gathering technical data and working with the manufacturer of the microlight and subject matter experts,’’ she said.

‘‘We don’t know yet when the investigation will be complete.’’

timothy.brown@odt.co.nz