SWOOPED TOO LOW.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 104, 4 May 1936, Page 10

SWOOPED TOO LOW.

ACCIDENT

ROOF OF MOTOR BUS HIT. TWO JOURNALISTS INJURED. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) C'HUISTCHUttCH, Sunday. Ali aeroplane swooping low at Mount Cook this afternoon struck and damaged the l'oof of a motor bus. Two men sitting ill the bus were cut by broken glass and suffered shock. The under-carriage of the aeroplane, an Air Force Avro, was damaged, but the pilot and his passenger were not hurt.

The accident occurred at the official opening of the new aerodrome at Mount Cook. After the ceremony Elving-Officer F. Truman took off with 'Mr. It. Wigley, son of the managing director of the Mount Cook Tourist 'Company, as passenger, to give nil exhibition of aerobatics. At an altitude of between 3000 ft and 4000 ft he commenced inverted flying, rolllifg and lof)|ling. Then the Machine dived from about 2000 ft, swooped over the aerodrome very close to the ground, turned and dived down the valley again. Still swooping low, the under-carriayo of the machine struck a parked motor bus, shearing through the roof, shattering the glass and tearing the sheet Metal as if it were paper, The impact wrenched one wheel ofT the undercarriage of the aeroplane and part of the left tail plane.

The wheel was at once taken out into the flying field and shown trt the men in the aeroplane. The pilot (lew low for a moment as if undecided what to do. then pointed in the direction of Christchurch and flew to Wlgi'atti.

The two occupants of the litis who were irljured Were Mr. H. M. Whatman, a reporter on the staff of the Christchurch "Star-Sun," and Mr. S~. Dow lies, chief reporter of the Titriaru "Herald." Mr. Whatman suffered severe shock and was cut bjr flying glass. His spectacles were broken, but his eyes escaped injury. Mr. Dowiics also was cut and still'ered shock, but not so serious. Mr. Whatman was brought to ChristeliUrch by another aeroplane for medical attention.

On arrival at the Wigrnm aerodrome Flying-Odiccr Truman made a skilful landing. The aeropinm suffered 110 further damage in landing, and neither ol the occupants was hurt.