'PLANE CRASH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 31, 6 February 1936, Page 8

'PLANE CRASH.

MACHINE WRECKED. MISHAP AT MANGERE. PILOT'S LUCKY ESCAPE. YOUNG PUPIL'S A3 VENTURE. A Gipsy Moth 'plane "vas wrecked in a paddock near the Ma:igere aerodrome at seven o'clock this morning and its young pilot, Mr. Jack E. Butcher, had a miraculous escape from injury. Flying ?010, Mr. Butcher was returning to the aerodrome, and when making a turn on the outskirts of the landing ground the .machine nose dived from a low altitude Into the ground and then turned over. The pilot, strapped in the cockpit, escaped with nothing more than a slight, .ibrasion to his head. Mr. Butcher, who is a pupil of the ;-lub, liad only recently flown solo and he went up th; 3 morning alone in the course of the necessary qualification before being examined for his A grade certificate. When nearing the aerodrome he shut off- the engine and started a series of turns prior to landing. The turns were apparently too steep for tlje iltitude r.t which he was flying. When rearing the ground he realised that he -.vas in difficulties and started the engine igain. The. machine immediately noselived, jiit the ground, and then turned jVcr. The propeller was smashed and ;he fv.selage badly wrecked and damage ilso done to the wings. Tko 'plane, AAK, is the oldest one hi tlie club's hangar, having been in ;lic club's possession for seven years. ;t had done 2500 hours' flying.