Investigation Of Tarmac Collision

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30498, 21 July 1964, Page 1

Investigation Of Tarmac Collision

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, July 20

The Civil Aviation Department has called a meeting of international airline representatives for later this week to discuss ways and means of ensuring that collisions will not again occur between aircraft on the ground at Whenuapai.

The wing-tip of a taxi-ing Canadian Pacific Airlines Britannia struck the tail cone of a parked Pan American Airways DC7C aircraft on Saturday evening. The department is making an inquiry into the incident. At the time of the collision the Britannia was under the direction of a ground marshaller.

Both aircraft were slightly damaged and were withdrawn for repairs. The departmental officer

said today it appeared responsibility for the collision was between the airlines. That part of the tarmac was not visible from the control tower, he said. The preliminary investigation was expected to be completed late today'. The Britannia was repaired overnight and left at 8 a.m. today for Honolulu, with 37 of the original 52 passengers. P.A.A. brought .its reserve aircraft into use and it also left at 8 a.m. for Nandi and Samoa.