Evidence Of Plane “Blowing Up”

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29855, 22 June 1962, Page 8

Evidence Of Plane “Blowing Up”

(New Zealand Press Association) TAUMARUNUI, June 20. An inquest on the victims of the civil aircraft crash on Mount fttiapehu on November 21, 1961, when six persons lost their lives, was begun today before the District Coroner (Mr G. H. Campbell).

Those who lost their lives were Captain William Bartlett, aged S 3, married, of Tauranga, pilot of the plane; and five passengers in the plane, Miss Doreen Marleen Boynton, of Murupara, Mrs Nicholas Reith Crook, aged 37, of Murupara; Jeffrey James Crook, aged two, son of Mrs Crook; Helen Elizabeth Crook, aged eight months, daughter of Mrs Crook; and Irvine William Down, of Wellington. Senior-Sergeant H. W. Austin conducted the inquest. Mr L. Arnold, bf Taumarunui. represented the widow of Irvine William Down.

Neil Bodley Kelland. a carrying contractor, of Taumarunui, said that on the morning of November 21, 1951, he was about four miles above the Chateau Tongariro when he heard the sound of a piston-engined aircraft and saw an aircraft flying right over the top of the mountain from approximately west to east. From where he was near the Salt hut sign the aircraft appeared to be well above the mountain.

As he watched the aircraft, smoke suddenly appeared from underneath it as though the pilot was topdressing. He then saw the aircraft lift in the nose as though the pilot was endeavouring to gain more height.. The aircraft continued on for what appeared to be about three chains when "suddenly the whole thing blew up.” Kelland said. The right-hand wing, plus a few bits and pieces, dropped off and the remainder of the plane then dropped with the attached wing uppermost. Coroner’s Finding

The Coroner said that the evidence brought before him established beyond doubt

that the remains found were those of the occupants of the plane when it left Wellington. He was satisfied that they died on November 21, 1961, of multiple injuries sustained when the plane crashed on the slopes of Mount Ruapehu. It was not within his jurisdiction to express an opinion as to why the crash had occurred.

He complimented Constable Rothwell who had had a trying experience and had had to spend a night on the mountain.

A spokesman representing Mrs Bartlett, widow of the pilot, said that he had advised the Civil Aviation authorities of an objection to the report which had been prepared and published by the accidents investigations branch of the Air Department.