FORCED LANDING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 157, 6 July 1931, Page 3

FORCED LANDING.

MOTH 'PLANE DAMAGED.

DOWN IN A PADDOCK.

PASSENGER'S LUCKY ESCAPE.

A Moth aeroplane piloted by Mr. J. M. Stevenson of the Auckland Aero Club, bad to make a forced landing on Saturday, when on the return journey from fVhangarei to Auckland, and though the t>nly handy landing ground was a small paddock, both the pilot and his passenger, his sister-in-law, Mrs. R. Stevenson, escaped serious injury. Mr. Stevenson and his passenger had flown up from Auckland in the morning and when on the return journey the crankshaft of the 'plane broke, when over the property of Mr. A. C. Grimmer, several miles from Dome Valley and between Warkworth and Wellsford. The small field where the pilot came down was a difficult spot on which to land, but the pilot managed the task skilfully —fortunately as there was no other suitable spot within a considerable distance. One wing, the propeller and the undercarriage were smashed. The fallen branch of a tree penetrated the cockpit, and hit the passenger over one eye. It eras remarkable that she escaped so lightly. Messrs. Grimmer, E. Bull und T. A. Grubb happened to be attending o some fencing not far away, otherwise help might have been long rn reaching the stranded travellers, who were provided with horses ftnd subsequently continued on to Auckland by car. The pilot and Mr. R. J. Copley, ground engineer of the Auckland Aero Club at Mangere, yesterday superintended the salvage of the damaged 'plane, which had to be carried in parts several miles as the lorries could not get any closer owing to the bad roads. The machine was taken to Warkworth and to-day removed to the Defence aerodrome at Hobsonville, where repairs will be made.