DROP TO DEATH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 165, 15 July 1938, Page 11

DROP TO DEATH.

PARACHUTIST'S CASE.

MR. G. W. SELLARS , FATE.

EVIDENCE AT IXQT7EST.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

WESTPORT, Thursday.

The descent made by the well-known Xew Zealand parachutist Mr. G. W. Sellars, who dropped 1500 ft to his death on North Beach at the Westport Aero Club'e pageant on July 2, was described by the pilot of the aeroplane from which he jumped, at the inquest held before the district coroner, Mr. E. R. Fox, today. The coroner's verdict was that Mr. Sellars died from the injuries he received when his parachutes failed and he was dashed to the ground."

The pilot, Flight-Lieutenant W. H. Parkes, instructor to the West Coast United Aero Club, said that after the pageant had been opened the wind was blowing steadily north-east at about 25 miles an hour on the ground level. At 2000ft r when Sellars left the aircraft, it was , blowing north-north-east at about 15 miles an hour. At this time there were no rain squalls and the ceiling was 2300 ft. The arrangements were that the machine was to fly to 1500 ft, but Sellars actually jumped off at 2000 ft.

Witness said he informed Sellars that the wind was slightly different upstairs from what it was on the ground, and not so strong, except in squalls. He also informed him that he would climb to 2000 ft and set a course north-north-east along the western side of the aerodrome. When he was ready, Sellars could leave the machine.

Course Altered Slightly. Sellars left the machine on the northern boundary of the aerodrome. He altered the course of witness slightly to the right after he left the cockpit and then sent him back again slightly ■to the left. Finally Sellars left the machine about one hundred yards over the boundary on the northern side of the aerodrome. "I was concerned on keeping the machine straight for Sellars," continued witness. "I could not remember the exact words he said when he left the machine. He said something like 'O.K.' or 'Cheerio.' After he left the machine I did a quick turn to the left. This is a habit of mine whenever I drop a man off for a parachute descent. "I wanted to know if the parachute envelope had opened. When I turned round the 'chute had left the pack and I was amazed to see a very small dome. The theory that passed through my mind when I eaw this was that Sellars was trying to spill air. As I was gliding with my back to him and wanted to belund the aerodrome before executing another tun, to the left I could not keep him under observation all the time. "When I did eventually get round the parachute was lying flat on the sand, approximately 100 yards from the boundary on the northern side of the aerodrqfme. It was limp and flat out instead of being billowed and full with air, which should have been the case if the parachutist had landed intact."

Witness added that everything was in the hande of the man who was goin«- to make the parachute descent. He decided absolutely if the weather should be unfavourable or any other circumstances unfavourable. He simply stated that he was not going to jump and that was the end of it.