CAUSE OF CRASH ON GLACIER
AVIATION EXECUTIVE’S OPINION (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, August 21. Unsuitable ski-landing equipment caused the crash of the R.N.Z.A.F. Auster on the Tasman Glacier on Sunday, Mr Leo White, managing director of White’s Aviation. Ltd., said in Auckland today. Both the Government and the Ross Sea Committee had refused offers of expert help and advice, he said. The Auster crashed, he said, because it had fixed ski equipment, in which the landing wheel protruded through the ski. Retractable equipment had been used successfully in over 400 flights. Retractable skis can be lowered below the level of the wheel, giving an unimpeded ski surface. “Airmen agree that to ask pilots to continue with unsuitable ski landing gear is wrong, particularly when there is equipment available fully approved by the Air Department.” Mr White said. “It is obvious that the men on the flying side are working in the uncertain atmosphere of Government. Ross Sea Committee, and Royal New Zealand Air Force control.”
Aircraft used in the Antarctic, he added, would not have wheels at all Wheels were necessary, however, in the Mount Cook area to enable planes to land and take off from a grass aerodrome
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Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28053, 22 August 1956, Page 6
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200CAUSE OF CRASH ON GLACIER Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28053, 22 August 1956, Page 6
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