Silence about survivor upsets dead pilot’s family

Feilding, New Zea land: The family of a flying instructor killed in a midair collision are frustrated by the lack of information about the surviving trainee pilot of the second aircraft.
Jessica Neeson, 27, and her student Patricia Smallman, 64, did not survive the crash into a paddock near Feilding after they collided with another Cessna 152 in the uncontrolled airspace above Manawatu about 3.30pm on Monday.
The Herald can reveal the as-yet-unnamed pilot as 21-year-old Indian student Manoj Kadam.
Mr Kadam, who is weeks away from sitting his commercial licence, has been praised for his skill in landing his plane with a dead engine and missing a wheel. He was unhurt.
Flight Training Manawatu owner Michael Bryant refused to comment while the crash investigation was in progress, and was disappointed that the student’s identity had been revealed.
Her uncle Richard Neeson said it was hard not even knowing the pilot’s name.
Mr Neeson said that while nothing would bring his niece back, it would be nice to put a face to the other pilot “instead of Mr Nobody”.
Initial reports that he was one of Ms Neeson’s flying students were wrong, he said. The family knew only that he was from India.
Mr Neeson said family were told the crash investigation could take up to six months.
29/07/10 Rachel Tiffen/nzherald.co.nz