Mt Ruapehu Crater Lake helicopter crash: removal of helicopter

Date:  14 December 2006

The wreckage of a helicopter that crashed on Monday 11 December at the top of Mt Ruapehu with five people on board was removed from the crash site today. 

Pete Masters, a helicopter pilot based at Taupo who works regularly in the Mt Ruapehu area and participated in the rescue of all five survivors, lifted out the wreckage of the Hughes 500 from the Crater Lake area this morning Department of Conservation Ruapehu Area manager Nicola Patrick said today.   

“Three alpine-experienced workers were dropped off at the Crater Lake crash site to secure the wreckage so it could be lifted out by helicopter.” 

Ms Patrick said the three DOC staff who were on board during the crash were discharged on Tuesday 12 December from Waikato and Taumarunui hospitals, and are recuperating at home with family and friends. 

“I was absolutely relieved to learn that all three, George Taylor, Mel Vedder and Ross Martin, suffered only relatively minor injuries,” Ms Patrick said. “Ironically, these three staff are normally on the other side of such events, either as volunteer fire fighters or search & rescue team members.” 

“I want to acknowledge the fantastic team work and response from the rescuers. It was a first-class operation with top-quality people working from my own team, the police, the Ruapehu Alpine Rescue Organisation, as well as Ruapehu Alpine Lifts, air ambulance and others. I want to thank these people for getting everyone safely off the mountain.”  

An assessment of the accident started on Tuesday 12 December by the Transport Accident Investigation Commission, with a report likely to be six months away.  A DOC internal investigation has also begun  

“The investigations are likely to determine what could be done better in the future to either reduce the risk of this happening or to help our response to events that lie beyond our control,” Ms Patrick said. “DOC is fully supporting the investigations.” 

Conservator Paul Green is pleased the helicopter has been removed quickly. “I had two concerns about the wreckage being left there for any length of time. They were an increase in small aircraft scenic flights over a high altitude area that could be subject to volcanic activity and the possibility of visitors to the summit attempting to make their way down the ice cliff to view the helicopter. The ice cliff is actively eroding and collapsing as the Crater Lake level rises and is a hazardous place to be.”