Queenstown

I remember sitting quietly in the passenger seat of a police car, driving across a Queenstown paddock.

A late Auckland breakfast is interrupted by a call from the Queenstown Police. The Police officer phoning me politely advises me that my aircraft has just crashed and that I am requested to travel to Queenstown to assist in the investigation.
This is not supposed to happen, it must be a mistake!
After hurriedly packing an overnight bag, I read a preliminary facsimile report while sitting in business class enroute to Queenstown. The words ‘all occupants suffering fatal injuries’ leaps out of the page at me.
Oh no, I often faint at the sight of blood!
The fax continues describing damage to the aircraft including fire and brief witness accounts.
The Ansett BAe 146 docks with Queenstown terminal at 11:30 AM, just 3 hours after the aircraft had crashed. As arranged, a reserved Constable Spooner is patiently waiting in the baggage collection area for me.
“Lets go it’s only a 5 minute drive to the crash site”
“Cheers,” I squeamishly hope I would see no blood.
Approaching the crumpled wreck, a deep in thought Spooner’s manner becomes one of genuine concern.
“I hope you have a strong stomach, because the DVI team hasn’t arrived from Invercargill yet.”
“What’s a DVI team?”
“Disaster Victim Identification Team, they match the body parts!”
I can’t believe what I’m hearing, adrenaline hits me hard.
Spooner parks close to the wreckage, I open the door and am greeted with the sight of an arm, a woman’s left arm that has been torn off at the shoulder. The petite limb, complete with a gold band is relaxed and lying peacefully by itself in the grass.
I know this woman well and am appalled at the mortification of such an unexpected meeting. I observe Spooner’s blank expression reflecting my own rapidly changing, self protective state of mind.

I spent four hours on that clinical investigation site in a dulled state of emotion, seemingly immune to the horrific scenes that my brain subconsciously records. Ten years later, after experiencing the investigation in entirety and reliving the scenes many times during my quiet moments, I am now at peace with it. I believe that my personal journey post the accident has also helped me to become a much safer Pilot and Flight Instructor.
I shall never forget that meeting on that day!