Coroner links pilot's drug use to death of NZ family

Kevin and Joanne Bowles of Hillsborough and their children Sophie, 9, and Michael, 6.

Alcohol and drugs may have contributed to the pilot error that killed an Auckland family of four in 2002, the Queensland state coroner has found.

Coroner Michael Barnes found pilot Andrew Morris, 27, was affected by alcohol and marijuana on the day his single-engine Piper Cherokee crashed, killing all six people on board, including Kevin and Joanne Bowles of Hillsborough and their children Sophie, 9, and Michael, 6.

Mr Morris and American honeymooner Christopher Le Gallo, 33, also died.

The Australian Transport and Safety Bureau said in a report in 2004 that samples taken from the dead pilot revealed a blood-alcohol level fractionally above the legal limit for Australian drivers, and traces of cannabis.

But that report said there was insufficient evidence to definitely link the drugs to the accident.

In his findings released yesterday, Mr Barnes said the cocktail of alcohol and drugs might have contributed to the crash, which occurred shortly after the aircraft took off from Hamilton Island in Queensland's Whitsundays on September 26, 2002.

Low elevation, slow speed and a steep turn caused the plane to stall, representing a serious error of judgment by the pilot, Mr Barnes said.

Mr Le Gallo's widow, Laura, has received the maximum compensation payout of A$500,000 ($596,000) under the Civil Aviation Act in Australia, but the relatives of the Bowles family have received nothing, despite having requested A$160,000 plus legal costs.

Only dependants or spouses qualify, and because the whole family died there were no dependants.

Yesterday's findings concluded an inquest that began last December.

In February, pilot Andrew Zantis told the inquest that Mr Morris had arrived at work the day of the crash about 10 to 15 minutes late, was unshaven and "looked a bit tired".

But Mr Morris did not seem incapable of performing his flying duties, nor did he appear hungover or affected by alcohol.

Australian Transport Safety Bureau senior investigator Ian Sangston told the inquest the crash was partly due to Mr Morris' attempt at a sharp turn as the engine faltered.

Mr Sangston described Mr Morris as "reasonably experienced" and said he had executed about 20 take-offs from Hamilton Island in difficult situations.

- NZPA