AIR CRASH AT TE AWAMUTU.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 142, 18 June 1930, Page 8

AIR CRASH AT TE AWAMUTU.

EYE-WITNESSES DESCRIBE • i., FATAIi SPIN. * "'.W' ' ~■— ; *?f PILOT'S GOOD RECORD. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) TE AWAMUTU, Tuesday. , ■ That the two men died from shock as the result of severe injuries received in an aeroplane crash, all the evidence , pointing to the belief that the crash was accidental, was the verdict returned by the coroner, Mr. S. H. Dunkley, at the conclusion of the adjourned inquest concerning the death of Captain Alfred W. Saunders, of Auckland, and Mr. Alfred T. Minchin, of Te Awamutu, formerly of Broadwoodj Hokianga, in an aeroplane crash at Te Awamutu racecourse oh May 21. Dr. F. C. Blundell said'that from the time of his admission early in the evening until his death at 10 a.m. next day, Captain Saunders was never actually conscious. In his semi-consciousnass he said: "I cannot , remember anything about it." He once remarked:' "I have Ibeen flying since 1916 and never had any trouble. , James G. Holmes, garage proprietor, ' said that prior to leaving for. Hamilton, Captain Saunders, in answer to a question whether he was going to do any stunting, replied in the affirmative. When witness saw the aeroplane in .the corkscrew spin he thought it was one of the stunts which the pilot said he intended to do.