CAUSE NOT KNOWN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 238, 8 October 1934, Page 11

CAUSE NOT KNOWN.

AEROPLANE CRASH.

MOUNT EGMONT TRAGEDY.

VERDICT AT INQUEST,

' (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) NEW PLYMOUTH, Saturday. A verdict that the cause of death was ( injuries in accordance with the medical evidence but that, there was insufficient evidence to determine the cause of the accident was returned by Mr. W. H. Woodwind, coroner, to-day, concerning the deaths of Messrs. S. W. Green, pilot, and J. A. Austin, both of New Plymouth, who were killed wlien an aeroplane in which they were travelling crashed 011 the slopes of Mount Lgniont on September 13. ' Flying-Officer lan Keith, the Western Federated chief instructor, said he tested the machine 011 the morning of the crash, and paid particular attention to the engine, which had been overhauled and checked again after a test. Green, before leaving with Austin 011 a photographic trip, mentioned that he intended to fly at a height of at least 12,000 ft. Witness said he made special remarks to Green concerning flying too close to the mountain, and also about care in keeping the engine warm. Green eaid he had had one fright previously which was caused by a down draught, and was always 011 guard against that. Finally witness mentioned what to do in tlie event of engine trouble. The weather and flying conditions that day were good. Witness said he had flown past the mountain hundreds of times in all kinds of weather, and had not met unusually | bumpy conditions. He was perfectly satisfied with the condition of the machine. Green Was a skilled pilot, who hail made trips before with Austin. Jan Anderson, mechanic, also gave evidence as to the perfect condition of the engine. Marks on Trees. Squadron-Leader Isitt, who examined the wreckage two days after the crash, said it was evident from marks on trees that the dive was south-west, with the possibility of a spin, but the effect of the path of the 'plane could not be calculated. The crash occurred on a steep hillside, where the grade was one in three. It appeared as though the machine was in a right-hand vertical bank when the Anal tree was struck. All of the control cables in t'w 'plane were broken, with the exception of the upper and right-hand elevator. The control cables and wings were I smashed beyond identification, and the instruments so badly damaged that nothing could be learned from them. The aircraft had apparently been well maintained. There was conflicting evidence as to whether the pilot's belt had to be undone or was fastened. The engine was free of th.e wreckage and. the crankshaft was turned over by hand. There was nothing to indicate engine failure, which was not necessarily the cause of the accident, though a contributing factor. The machine had been in good condition, the records indicated. He considered a fair test had been given the machine before leaving the aerodrome on the morning of the fatality, and that it was in lit condition to undertake the flight.. Squadron-Leader Isitt concluded by stating that all that could be said was that (lie machine must have been out of control when it struck the ground. There were three causes to account for .This: (1) Pilot's error of judgment; (2) structural failure or jamming of controls; (3) incapacity of pilot through I fainting.