AIR CRASH AT AKAROA

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23089, 3 August 1940, Page 14

AIR CRASH AT AKAROA

CORONER OPENS INQUEST EYE WITNESSES GIVE EVIDENCE An aircraft, accident at Akaroa on June 15. in which two young airmen lost their lives, was investigated at an inquest opened at Akaroa yesterday. The men were Leading Aircraftsmen Francis Maurice McFarlane, aged 24, a married man, of Nelson, and John Lindsay McFadyen, aged 22, of Blackball. They were killed when their machine, a Royal New Zealand Air Force Oxford Airspeed, bomber, crashed in Cross street and set nearby buildings on fire. The evidence of five Akaroa witnesses was heard, after which the Coroner, Mr E. C. Levvey. S.M.. adjourned the inquest to Christchurch, where it will be completed. William Anthony White, a retired manufacturer of Grehan Valley, Akaroa, formerly of the Royal Flying Corps, and Royal Air Force, said that about 11.30 a.m. on the day the aeroplane crashed he saw it overhead while he was standing in Grehan road, about half a mile from Cross street and he estimated that it was then about 1000 feet up.' A few minutes later the machine came round again flying much lower and with less speed. He wondered if anything was wrong, but the engines were running sweetly and it appeared to be only about 500 ft up. . .. The aeroplane continued down the valley for about 200 yards and banked very steeply on' the left-hand turn, and without righting itself went into a steep dive. He watched and listened as it fell, but could not see it after it came below 200 feet. He heard the crash and saw thick,, black ing from the ground. . In *he fteep turn the machine was banked vertically and appeared to slip inwards. losine height. The speed was still slow. He hurried to the scene of the accident and found the machine burning fiercely.

* Spiral Dive Daniel J. Langrope, of the Akaroa Fire Brigade, living in Layauu rtStWidhe saw. the AOTPl*™ Lavaud street, flying north, lust east of the town. It flew past the town, and when it turned he e stunated that it was from 250 feet to 300 feet up. It seemed to straignten up and ny west, the nose .of the machine rising, but the left wing remained . down Alter the beginning of the spiral the machine disappeared behind nearby buildings. s The engine was not misfiAfter the crash the machine immediately burst into flames. Collecting some fire-fighting equipment he ran to the scene of the crash, but could not get near because of the beat. Walter B. Ramsay, motor transport operator, of Akaroa, said that he was sitting in his house when he heard the noise of an aeroplane which indicated that it was flying low. When he_ got outside he estimated that it was about 300 feet to 400 feet high. It appeared . to be on practically a level keel and then went into a steep climb, as if it was going to loon or stunt. While it was doing this it lost sneed and banked over to the left. The wings were almost perpendicular, and when it fell the machine cork-screwed to the ground. , . . . When it struck the ground ]ust in front of his house the machine burst into flames. The engines seemed to be running normally before the crash, and appeared to be giving a retarded roar, as they might do if particularly throttled back, puring the time he observed the aeroplane it was travelling well below cruising speed. “Engines Appeared Normal” Francis E. Koijowski, grocer’s assistant, Akaroa, said he was standing in Jolie street half a mile south of where the accident occurred; The aeroplane came over the hill from the south and was then flying about 1000 feet up. It circled the harbour and town twice., gradually losing height, ar 1 when it was making the second turn it banked very steeply, and from this turn went into a spiral, completing one and a half turns before hitting the ground. The engines appearedito be running normally all the time, but the machine did not appear to be travelling very fast as it hit the .ground. He saw flames burst out and thick smoke rise. The nearby buildings were set on fire. Dr. William J. Edginton, medical practitioner, of Akaroa, said, that both bodies were extensively fractured and suffered from severe burning. In his opinion both men died instantly. At this stage the inquest was adjourned to Christchurch, where the evidence to be taken will include that of Constable Wootton and another eye witness, Mr O. Newell, carrier, of Redcliffs.