Aviation investigators will use GoPro video and parachute recording systems to find out what went wrong in a skydiving accident over Lake Wakatipu yesterday, after which a tourist remains missing.
Lake Wakatipu, looking towards Jack's Point. Photo: RNZ / Ian Telfer
The police dive squad was sent to help recover the tourist, who fell into the lake near Queestown during a tandem skydive yesterday.
Emergency services were called just before 2pm yesterday after the two men went into the lake near Jack's Point. The instructor was rescued by a private vessel in the area within 20 minutes of the incident.
TAIC investigator in charge Barry Stephenson told a news conference in Queenstown this afternoon it was still very early days, and they were in the evidence gathering stage.
He said he had spoken to police and the skydiving operator, but not the instructor.
Parachutes have recording systems in them and they would be used to piece together what happened, Mr Stephenson said.
He said he did not want to comment on the suggestion there was a parachute malfunction, but that this would be investigated.
The TAIC investigation could take a year, Mr Stephenson said.
He said there were nine skydiving pairs and a pilot in the plane the pair jumped from.
Skydiving company speaks to media
Skydiving company NZONE's executive director Anthony Ritter told a news conference this afternoon he was devastated by happened and they were giving police their full assistance.
He said the tandem instructor, who has completed more than 3000 tandem skydives, has been released from hospital with minor bruises.
He confirmed the instructor had a GoPro video recorder on their wrist, which was now in police possession.
Mr Ritter said the instructor was rescued after a person flying in a helicopter saw what happened, landed near their home, jumped in a boat and drove out to rescue them.
NZONE has been running for 27 years and has had 300,000 people jump with them, he said.
The site was last audited for safety in August last year by the Civil Aviation Authority, Mr Ritter said.
The company would perform its own investigation into what happened, he said, and suspended business during the search.
He said they had not considered yet when they would reopen.
Mr Ritter is also chief executive of NZONE's Australian parent company Experience Co, which owns Skydive Mission Beach in the far north of Queensland.
That company was involved in what is thought to be a mid-air crash in October last year, killing instructors Peter Dawson and Toby Turner along with mother-of-eight Kerri Pike.
Sonar equipment may be used in search for tourist
Lake Wakatipu, with Kelvin Heights in the background. Photo: RNZ / Ian Telfer
Police earlier said a full rescue operation to search for the missing man got under way immediately, but was suspended at 4.30pm, when it was clear the missing man was not on the lake's surface.
However, Otago Lakes Central Area Commander Inspector Olaf Jensen, said the instructor's survival relied on a quick response from rescuers.
Police are working with consulate staff to liaise with the missing man's family. Mr Jensen said the man was in New Zealand on his own.
Mr Jensen said police were now focussed on a recovery operation, rather than a rescue.
He said the viability of using sonar equipment to help find the missing man will be looked at today.
Mr Jensen said the area where the two men fell into the water was 250m deep.