AEROPLANE CRASH AT WAIHO

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21506, 22 June 1935, Page 23

AEROPLANE CRASH AT WAIHO

EVIDENCE AT INQUEST PILOT NOT ON SERIOUSLY ILL LIST (PKXSS ASSOCtmOI TEMHJWJI.I HOKTTTKA, June 21. The body of Mrs Newman, who was killed in the Waiho aeroplane crash, was brought to Hokitika to-day. An inquest was formally opened by Mr A, E. Benjamin as coroner at., the .Westland Hospital, by the bedside of Harold Lawn, the injured pilot, who was j well enough for a brief interview. Evidence of identification of tbVbody was taken and the inquest adjourned. I The inquest was reopened in the, afternoon to take the evidence of Wigram officials. Flight Lieutenant V. J. SomersetThomas. Royal New Zealand Air Force, said that he saw the remains ' of the aeroplane, which was completely destroyed by fire. Except for the ironwork there was only one wheel left He saw the body, which had been removed. In bis opinion death must have been instantaneous.

Frederick William Thornton, leading air-craftsman at the Wigram Aero- ; drome, said he examined the remain* of the machine and found the elevator ; and rudder controls still intact, no pins having become unfastened. One inter*,, < plane strut was still intact. The greater part of the engine was melted away and the remainder a mass of twisted ironwork. Nothing was left , of the wings or woodwork, and there 4 . was nothing to show that the aileron control was in order at the time of I the crash or otherwise. He could not say what was the cause of the accident.

The funeral of Mrs Newman will '! take place at Waiho to-morrow. Mr Harold Lawn, the pilot, who is ''■': in the Westland Hospital, is not on -r the seriously ill list. He is suffering £> from shock and severe burns to th* head, face, and neck.