CRASH INTO RIVER
Plane Strikes Power Lines
(N.Z. Press Association)
DUNEDIN, Sept. 18. A topdressing pilot narrow, ly escaped death today when his Piper Cub struck hightension power lines and plunged into the Clutha river half a mile from Balclutha. The pilot, Desmond Pirie, of Renfrew street, Balclutha struggled out of his wrecked aircraft and waded ashore. He received only slight abrasions.
As a result of the crash, Balclutha was without power from 1 p.m. until 6 pm. A doctor at Balclutha Hospital, which overlooks the river, saw the plane crash and notified the police. Sergeant J. D. Farquhar and Constable J. Kennedy, using a shingle dragline, recovered the wrecked aircraft from the rive,.
Sergeant Farquhar said Mr Pirie had been flying low down the river. He saw the wires and tried to avoid them by flying underneath. The aircraft’s tail hit the lines and the plane spun before plunging into the water. The wires were about 30ft above the level of the river
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19620919.2.112
Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CI, Issue 29931, 19 September 1962, Page 14
Word Count
164CRASH INTO RIVER Press, Volume CI, Issue 29931, 19 September 1962, Page 14
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