Tears flow as daughters seek answers

The daughter of two people killed in the Carterton balloon crash tearfully told the court she and her sisters had lost the two "most amazing parents".

The inquest continues this week into the disaster which killed 11 people in January 2012, when a hot air balloon crashed into power lines near Carterton and caught on fire.

Fiona Rouse's parents, Desmond and Ann Dean, were among the victims.

Ms Rouse told the inquest her parents were "selfless" people.

Through tears on Tuesday, she said she believed if pilot Lance Hopping had been drug tested and had a current medical certificate, the disaster could have been avoided.

"This was a preventable accident, if there had been more appropriate measures and checks in places.

"My sisters and I have lost the two most amazing parents."

There was no way her parents would have boarded the balloon had they known these precautions were not in place, Ms Rouse said.

"The outcome would have been so very different had the pilot been drug tested and held a current medical certificate ... The ramifications of these checks not being in place are endless."

The Transport Accident Investigation Commission has already established that errors by Mr Hopping were ultimately responsible for the crash.

At the time, Mr Hopping had cannabis in his system.

His pilot's medical certificate had also lapsed.

Earlier Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) general manager of general aviation Steve Moore gave evidence. He said he did not believe more frequent drug testing was needed in the adventure aviation industry.

Lawyer Grant Burston, who is assisting Coroner Peter Ryan, questioned Mr Moore on whether there was enough information to warn pilots of the danger of balloon contact with power lines.

Mr Moore said current procedures were sufficient, and believed pilots were aware of the danger of power line strikes.

"There are always risks and I am sure Mr Hopping had no intention of going anywhere near those lines."

The inquest at Wellington District Court continues.

- APNZ