CRASH INTO SEA.

Auckland Star, Issue LXI, 5 December 1930, Page 7

CRASH INTO SEA.

END TO CAPE FLIGHT. Miss Spooner Swims Two Miles To Shore. AVIATORS SLIGHTLY INJURED. (United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 11.30 a.m.) ROME, December 4.

Miss Winifred Spooner, who set out with Flying Officer E. Edwards from Croydon yesterday morning in .an attempt on the record for the trip to Capetown, crashed into the Tyrrhenian Sea, fortunately without serious injuries. They had been traversing the sea by moonlight when engine trouble caused their descent. Luckily the aeroplane floated. * The pair sent up flares for two hours and constantly shouted, although without success. Then Miss Spooner, who is an'excellent swimmer, resolved to attempt to swim ashore, which she estimated to be two miles distant. The sea was choppy and the current strong. When she landed two hours later she was suffering considerably from cold and exhaustion, and was unable to find anyone. She managed to stumble to the railway station at Belmonte, where she was given first aid. The station staff aroused fishermen, who set off to the rescue, being guided to the 'plane by the few remaining flares left in the possession of Edwards. Dawn was just breaking when Edwards was taken off and the 'plane was taken in tow. Miss Spooner was slightly injured in the nose and lips, and Edwards on the forehead. The aviators are at present the guests of the Mayor of Belmonte. An aeroplane has been sent to Miss Spooner's assistance by the Italian Air Minister, General Italo Balbo Miss Spooner, who became a pilot in 1927, has made a number of historic flights and has had several remarkable escapes. She' received the woman's trophy of the International League of Aviators in March. - = -

WILL FLY ON. MRS. MILLER'S ATTEMPT. NEW YORK, December 4. A wireless dispatch to the "Daily NeW at Miami, Florida, from Nassau, Bahama Islands, states that Mrs. Keith Miller and Captain Lancaster will attempt to fly in the airwoman's machine to Miami from Andros Island to-day.- Slight repairs have been made to the damaged wing.