DIVE INTO SAND.

Auckland Star, 2 January 1931, Page 8

DIVE INTO SAND.

MONOPLANE AORANGI.

CRASH AT KAWHIA

PILOTS AND PASSENGERS ESCAPE

(Dy Telegrnpli.—Press. Association.)

KAWHIA, this day

J The De Sou tor monoplane, the Aorangi, owned by the Waikato Aviation Comi pany and piloted by Mr' Stanley Blackmore, came to grief when landing at Kawhia this morning. The landing ground is situated on a sand bank in the middle of the harbour, but, as the tide was full in, only a j small portion of it was exposed. ! The pilot, reconnoitred a good deal before attempting to land.. Finally he made for the full length of the available runway,, hut the distance was totally insufficient,' and the plane was soon enveloped in spray, water and sand, and was heading at a high speed for , the water's edge. Just as a plunge into the tide' was imminent, softer sand was encountered. The plane nose-dived into this and'turned completely over, coming to a standstill partly submerged at the water's: edge. ' ■ j The pilot and two passengers escaped injury. ■•.■•, The Aorangi was the plane which Messrs. Piper and Kay, the New Zealand Hydrs, used oil their flight from England to Australia. Mr. BlacKmore purchased lithe machine recently. The 'plane was not seriously damaged, but one wheel was wrenched off.