A CORONER has declined to make recommendations following an inquest into a fatal plane crash in the Upper Hunter which killed a Glen Innes man seven years ago.
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Matthew Green died, while his brother-in-law, Sydney auctioneer Scott Kennedy-Green, survived, when the Cessna 172 aircraft they were travelling in crashed in the Coolah Tops National Park on Christmas Eve, 2008.
Mr Kennedy-Green was flying the pair from Mudgee to Glen Innes when he became disoriented as the plane flew through thick cloud north of the Golden Highway.
Mr Kennedy-Green managed to raise the alarm by talking to a truck driver over a UHF frequency, while others also heard the pleas for help.
He was rescued at 10am on Christmas Day after being found by a VRA volunteer and was later airlifted to Sydney’s Westmead Hospital, suffering a fractured pelvis and neck.
Deputy state coroner Sharon Freund said an autopsy report found Mr Green suffered a severe blunt head injury, along with skull fractures and brain injuries.
She said a forensic pathologist had noted “the severity of the injuries were consistent with a rapid death, and there was no chance of survival, even if prompt emergency treatment had been made available”.
Mr Kennedy-Green had completed his biannual flight review the day before the crash and was not licensed to fly in such difficult conditions.
He was initially charged with manslaughter, but eventually pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of flying an aircraft recklessly to the safety of others.
He was fined $2000 by a Newcastle magistrate in 2012.
Ms Freund yesterday said she was satisfied an Air Transport Safety Bureau report had dealt with all the issues raised by the incident and that air safety authorities had “satisfactorily addressed” those issues.
“It is clear, whatever endeavours Mr Kennedy-Green was making to contend with the deteriorating weather conditions, he became disorientated and the aircraft collided with the terrain,” she found.
Ms Freund found it would have been highly unlikely Mr Green would have survived, but noted the ATSB referred to “considerable confusion” about where to launch the search for the aircraft, because Mr Kennedy-Green had initially conveyed incorrect GPS co-ordinates.
“From the evidence before me, it appears that extensive and timely efforts were made to locate the stricken aircraft and its passengers in a co-ordinated operation by a number of emergency response agencies,” she said.
The bureau report confirmed there were no maintenance or mechanical issues with the plane and that Mr Kennedy-Green had not obtained the relevant weather forecasts, nor turned back when he should have.
“The impact of the death of Mr Green on his family, including in particular his mother and sister, and also Mr Kennedy-Green himself, is undoubtedly devastating,” Ms Freund said.
“Every Christmas Eve and Christmas Day going forward will be tinged with sadness.
“I extend my heartfelt condolences to the family for their loss.”