'PLANE CRASHES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 271, 15 November 1937, Page 9

'PLANE CRASHES.

CHILDREN'S ESCAPE.

MISS DEATH BY INCHES. PILOT DIVED INTO WIRES. SYDNEY, November 12. Three children escaped death by inches when a 'plane crashed on to the lawn of their home at Condobolin, N.S.W.

The pilot, Don Dawson, of Sydney, and the passenger. , Duncan Knox, of I'leixant Hills. Henty, who is part owner of the 'plane, were badly shaken, but uninjured.

Flying a single-engined monoplane cabin Desoutter. he was at an altitude of loOOft when he noticed the engine getting "sick."'

"Without warning, the engine cut .dead completely, while I was over th«; town. I lost height rapidly and decided to make an attempt to land on a vacant allotment at the corner of two streets," he said. Feared The Worst. "I put the 'plane's nose down and purposely crashed through the street electric wires to try and break down the speed.

"It was then that I noticed the children, and, believe me, that was the worst moment of my life. I did not think 1 could miss them. "In a flash the crash came. The nose of the "plane hit the ground, the engine dropped out, and the fuselage landed on the fence and swung completely round. "I was dazed, and petrol from a broken pipe flowed over us. I feared fire, thinking the broken wires which were throwing blue sparks would cause an explosion.

"Knox and I scrambled out, and it was with great relief I saw that the kiddies were still alive." Still Sitting on Fence. The house into which the 'plane crashed was that of Constable Hardy. His son Robert, 12, and daughters, Marie, (!, and Molly, 2, were on the lawn watching the 'plane overhead.

Molly was sitting on the fence and the other two were standing nearby. On hearing the crash, Constable Hardy ran from the house. The 'plane was straddled across the fence, the tail touching the verandah.

Marie was still sitting on her post a few feet from the 'plane, and she was amazed to see Robert and the baby crawl unharmed from beneath the broken wing. The broken wires were round their bodies, but luckily they were not touched by the live ends. Later, Robert said: "We were watching the 'plane, and suddenly it started to drop down. It came nearer and nearer, and in no time seemed only a few feet from us.

"I thought it was going to hit us, and I grabbed Molly and dropped behind the fence."