Beach crash pilot 'up there with the best'

The young pilot of a light aircraft that crashed in the Far North on Wednesday, killing a prominent Swiss businessman, is "up there with the best we've had", says his employer.

Salt Air manager Grant Harnish yesterday described 21-year-old Simon Van Den Burg, of Paihia, as a safe pilot.

The Cessna 172 plunged into the sea off Cable Bay, northeast of Kaitaia, killing Heinrich Carl Bossard, 61, chief executive and majority shareholder in a firm that employs 1200 people in Zug, Switzerland.

Mr Bossard's wife, 44-year-old Silvia Bossard-Eichenberger, suffered a back injury and was in a stable condition in Whangarei Hospital yesterday.

Mr Van Den Burg was in the same hospital in a stable condition with a head injury and a fractured ankle.

A hospital spokeswoman said the pilot's injuries were relatively minor, while further tests were being done on Mrs Bossard to determine the extent of her spinal injury.

Mr Harnish said: "Simon's flown the route many times. He's a very safe pilot, no question about that.

"We don't know what happened yet but my confidence is in the pilot. "I back him 100 per cent to make the right decision.

"He had called in to say the weather was deteriorating and he was coming back.

"It was a matter of turning round and coming back to base but obviously the door closed behind him."

The trio were the only occupants of the Cessna, which crashed 100m off Cable Bay beach in rain and low cloud while on a flight from the Bay of Islands to Cape Reinga.

Mr Bossard's body was retrieved from floating wreckage by Mangonui volunteer firefighters.

Mrs Bossard and Mr Van Den Burg swam part-way to the beach before being rescued in the shallows.

Mr and Mrs Bossard were in New Zealand on a family trip.

The crash is being investigated by the Transport Accident Investigation Commission.

There will also be an independent investigation by an air accident inspector, while police will make inquiries on behalf of the coroner.