ANOTHER PLANE CRASH

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 13270, 21 February 1941, Page 5

ANOTHER PLANE CRASH

ONE AIRMAN KILLED, SECOND ESCAPES WITH SLIGHT INJURIES _ Wellington, Feb. 20 One member of the Royal New Zealand Air Force lost his life and another was injured this morning when two aircraft of which they were occupants collided while on training flights near the Royal New Zealand Air Force station at Harewood. They were: Killed. Leading Aircraftsman William Gordon Stephens. Next-of-kin, wife, Mrs Margaret Stephens, 9, Nursery Road, Linwood, Christchurch; mother, Mrs A. E. Stephens, Mount Hutt, Rakaia. Slightly Injured.— Leading Aircraftsman Walter John Willis. Next-of-kin, father, Mr Stanley Collard Willis, Karaka Road, Thames. Both were airman pilots under training- and were engaged in solo flying practice. The accident occurred at 9.27 o'clock this morning, approximately one mile east of Harewood. The two aircraft collided in mid-air, both crashing. That piloted by Stephens was wrecked, the pilot being killed instantly. A fire broke out on the ground. The other aircraft was badly damaged, Willis escaping with slight injuries. He was later admitted to the station hospital. A court of inquiry will be held. Plane a Charred Wreck According to a Press Association message from Christchurch the machines were flying at about 800 feet and were approximately three-quar-ters of a mile south of the aerodrome when the collision occurred. Both pilots were flying solo. The machine in which Stephens lost his life spun to the ground after the collision and burst into flames. It struck the surface of Burnside Road. The petrol tank burst and fire quickly enveloped the machine. It was reduced to a charred wreck, only the metal portions outlining the framework and the engine remaining. The second machine turned away westward after the collision, the pilot endeavouring to make a forced landing in an open paddock. In landing the machine tore its way through a low gorse fence and touched rough ground. The undercarriage was broken and the machine turned completely over on its back after travelling a. few yards. It was considerably damaged, and Willis was lucky to escape with only slight injuries.