CORONER’S COURT Aircraft Hit Hill After Taking Off From Paddock

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31384, 1 June 1967, Page 17

CORONER’S COURT Aircraft Hit Hill After Taking Off From Paddock

Shortly after a Piper Cub aircraft took off from a farm at Hawarden on the afternoon of November 6 it flew into cloud, the tip of one wing hit a hillside about the 2000 ft level, and the aircraft cartwheeled along the ground, killing the pilot instantly, according to evidence given in the Coroner’s Court yesterday afternoon.

The Coroner (Mr A. T. Bell) found that lan Lockland Denniston Shaw, aged 61, of Tinwald, died on November 6 at Waikari, the cause of death being multiple injuries suffered when.the aircraft he was flying crashed. Cyril Edward Marsh, a farmhand, of “Heatherstock,” Hawarden, said about 11.45 a.m. on November 6 Shaw’s plane landed in the lucerne paddock near his home. Shaw had lunch at his house and then witness and his family walked with Shaw to his aircraft.

After taking off about 1.45 p.m. the plane flew south and then turned and came back and dropped a biscuit to one of the boys.. It then headed towards the Weka Pass. Shaw had told him he was going to circle Anny Antell’s house. The weather was overcast and a fog was coming in from the sea, but visibility was good towards the Weka Pass.

On November 9, three days later, he received a telephone call from Ashburton saying that Shaw had not arrived home and that his car was still parked at the Ashburton airport, said Marsh. Constable W. A Gregory, of Waikari, said that at 5.25 p.m. on November 8 he received a message that a crashed aircraft had been seen in the Waikari area from the air. The Search and Rescue Organisation was alerted and a party made a search of the area.

About 10.30 p.m. the same day the crashed aircraft was found in the Doctor’s Hill area with the aid of spotlights.

The pilot was dead and appeared to have been dead for some time. From papers found on the body he was identified as Shaw. He was the sole occupant of the plane, which he owned. He thanked farmers and others who had assisted in the search and lent vehicles, said Constable Gregory.

WALKED • INTO CAR Shortly after a driver had his car key* taken from him for driving In an erratic manner he walked out into the road in the path of approaching vehicles and was fatally injured, according to the evidence. The Coroner found that Jack Douglas Miller, aged 58, died on March 21 in the Christchurch Hospital, the cause of deathbeing lacerations and hemorrhage of the brain, in an association with a fracture of the skuU, suffered when he walked into the side of a car driven by Graham Edward Luft in Bealey avenue near Durham street on March 18.

Evidence was given that Miller was almost hit by one car which bad to brake hard to avoid him and then he walked into the side of another car.

KILLED BY GAS Temaurl (also known as Murray) Pongia, aged 33, was found to have died on March 13 at the Christchurch Gas Company's works in Moorhouse avenue, the cause of death being carbon monoxide poisoning. Evidence was given that Pongia was found in a state of collapse in the dilution plant. Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation was applied but he did not respond. Dr. P. A. E. Smith, who conducted the post-mortem examination, said there was a bruise on Pongia's' forehead and he could have knocked himself unconscious when putting coke into a machine.

CHILD KILLED Andrew John McDonald, aged three, was found to have died on March 30 in Breezes road, the cause of death being multiple Injuries suffered when he ran on the road and was struck by a utility vehicle driven by John Ryan. Evidence was given that two young children ran out on to Breezes road near Carters road into the path of the utility vehicle driven by Ryan, a contractor.

CRUSHED BY LOADER Raymond Stanley Chapman, aged 50, was found to have died

on March 30 at the Whites road gravel pit in the Eyre County, the cause of death being fractures of the skull and lacerations of the brain, suffered when the front end loader he was driving fell into the shingle pit and overturned. SUICIDE VERDICT Stanley John Benbow, aged 31, was found to have died on April 10 at 281 Bexley road, New Brighton, having committed suicide, the cause of death being a gunshot wound in the head and neck.