Float Ripped Off Amphibian

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30783, 22 June 1965, Page 1

Float Ripped Off Amphibian

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, June 21.

An amphibian aircraft capsized and partially sank after ripping off a float while landing in the Auckland harbour at 5.25 p.m. today.

The pilot, Captain W. M. Roberts, was treated at Auckland Hospital for cuts to the fade but was later allowed to go home.

His two passengers, Messrs A. E. Plimley and G. E. Gruzelier, Post Office technicians, were unhurt.

Late tonight, the aircraft was moored to a buoy in Mechanics Bay, still capsized and with one wing, a float and the hull showing above the water.

A Grumman Widgeon, the aircraft is owned by Tourist Air Travel, Ltd. The amphibian was returning from Pakatoa Island where Messrs Plimley and Gruzelier had been servicing the island’s telephone circuit to Auckland Mr Gruzelier said later the accident occurred so quickly he did not realise what was happening at first.

“We were losing altitude ready to land when the right wing hit the water,” he said. “There was no water coming into the cabin, but the motors were still running and we were still moving around in a circle.”

The passengers and pilot climbed out onto the wing. “While we were sitting out on the wing waiting for somebody to come to help, we could feel the plane slowly sinking further and further into the water,” said Mr Gruzelier.

“We eventually had to jump into the water and soon after the plane rolled completely over,” he said. Mr Gruzelier said the launch Aotearoa picked them all up and took them to Mechanics Bay. “The capsized amphibian was towed to Mechanics Bay by a Navy launch. Mr B. Cox, chief engineer for Tourist Air Travel, said it was expected that it would be righted tomorrow and pumped out.