Parachute Did Not Open, Saved Pilot

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30074, 7 March 1963, Page 14

Parachute Did Not Open, Saved Pilot

(New Zealand Press Association)

INVERCARGILL, March 6.

A few inches of rope and the close proximity to the only landing place within miles were combined with superb flying to avoid a crash by a Cessna aircraft making a parachute supply drop deep in Fiordland on Tuesday.

Captain R. Mclvor, of the Ritchie Air Services, based at Te Anau, had flown to Hidden Falls in the Lower Hollyford with a 2001 b load under each wing.

Over the dropping rone he pressed the release for the loads and the drama began. The starboard load fell away cleanly; the port wing bundle of timber fell only at the front and was held vertical by the back attachment. Within seconds, it swung like a pendulum and began hitting the aileron, so causing the plane to bank. The parachute static line was just long enough to withstand the partial fall of the load without releasing the parachute. Release of the parachute could have meant the envelopment of the wing. Captain Mclvor, although he has been with the Ritchie Air Service only about seven months, had previously pinpointed likely emergency landing spots, and promptly flew to the only one within miles, near the dropping zone.

Just as the aircraft touched, the rope holding the bundle broke. “The incident was a chance

in a thousand and all the credit for the way the danger was met was due to Captain Mclvor,” said Mr lan Ritchie today.

The Cessna was flown to Invercargill where a slightly damaged aileron will be replaced.

Captain Mclvor was again flying today in a Dominie also based at Te Anau. The bundle that nearly proved his downfall will be carried the short distance from the place he landed to the building site.