'PLANE CRASH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 159, 8 July 1935, Page 9

'PLANE CRASH.

POWER LINES HIT.

MR. L W. SWAN INJURED.

ACCIDENT NEAR MANGERE.

Severe facial injuries were suffered by Mr. L. •W. Swan, secretary of the Auckland Aero Club, when a Moth aeroplane in which he was practising forced landings crashed near the- Mangere aerodrome on Saturday ' afternoon. The machine was extensively damaged. The accident occurred at 4.30 p.m. Mr. Swan,had been in the air about ten minutes and was flying solo. He was returning In tlie direction of the aerodrome when his 'plane fouled some 11,000-volt power lines near the corner of Puhunui and Price's Eoads, Papatoetoe, and nose-dived to the ground. Mr. Swan was thrown violently forward and struck his face on the cowling. His left eye was injured by his spectacles, which he was wearing under his

goggles, and bones in his face were broken. He displayed remarkable fortitude after the crash, walking to a motor truck, which took him to Mr. Frank Bell's farmhouse. / .:

Flight-Lieutenant Allan, chief instructor to the club, who had seen the 'plane fall, flew in another Moth machine to the field to investigate. He landed nearby and Mr. Swan was helped into the passenger's seat. Flight-Lieutenant Allan then flew him back to the aerodrome, where he was transferred to a motor car and driven to Auckland. He was attended by Dr. J. H. H. Wood, of Remuera, who ordered his removal to hospital. .Extensive Damage To 'Plane. When the 'plane was examined by Mr. F. A. N. North, the ground engineer, it was found that the front part of the fuselage and the two lower wings' were extensively damaged. The propeller was broken and the rudder also danu ; aged. The machine was partly dismantled and taken by lorry back to the aerodrome. As soon as the power lines were broken by the crash the automatic cutout switches operated immediately and that section of the line went "dead." Farmers and residents of the district were considerably inconvenienced by the power stoppage, which was not restored until 7 p.m. In some cases milking was not finished until late in the evening. Mr. Swan, who holds an endorsed A license as well as a -B pilot's license, has had considerable flying experience in the past two years, and was a passenger in the 'plane which on March 17, 1934, when piloted by Mr. Ernest R. Boucher, president of the Auckland Aero Club, crashed on Mount Hawkins near the entrance to Wellington Harbour. Mr. Swan was injured in the crash and was taken to the Wellington Hospital suffering from facial wounds and shock. ,Mr. Boucher was fatally injured.