Air Search Today For Stolen Plane

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32214, 5 February 1970, Page 1

Air Search Today For Stolen Plane

No trace has been found of the Cessna aircraft belonging to the Otago Aero Club which was taken from Taieri Airport early on Tuesday morning.

The Dunedin police say that the 19-year-old youth who is believed to have taken the aircraft told a friend that he intended to fly the aircraft to one of the lakes in the Manapouri-Te Anau area ‘ and bring it down on a • lake. After the aircraft had sunk in deep water 1 he intended to swim . ashore and live in the jbush for several years. I Three lifejackets were iltaken from the club's premjises about the time the plane disappeared. I Control of the search for

the aircraft was passed yesI terday afternoon to the rescue co-ordination centre at Christchurch airport. The centre controls all air searches in the South Island south of the Conway River. The search co-ordinator (Mr F. A. Cox) said that at 7 a.m. today a Royal New Zealand Air Force Devon would leave Wigram to search the Te Anau-Mana-pouri area. If necessary the aircraft would be refuelled at Dunedin. Four of the five main users of light aircraft in that (area had been advised yesterday afternoon of the search ;and through their own radio Slinks were spreading the information about the missing Cessna. Mr Cox said there had been no positive sightings of the Cessna, though there had been some sightings of light aircraft which had to be checked. Many light aircraft were flown in the southern part of the South Island. “The only real lead we have is the information from the Dunedin police,” he said. The Cessna, worth $B5OO, is a high-winged monoplane with a three-wheel undercarriage. A Press Association message from Dunedin says the police have not released the name of the youth, but he is described as being slightly over 6ft, with a fair complexion and fair hair.

When the aircraft was taken it carried enough fuel to take it 200 to 250 miles. The possibility that the plane was landed at a remote topdressing strip and refuelled with stored petrol is being considered by the police. All airports have been told to watch for the aircraft, which is white with royal blue linings and has the registration number ZKCGI on the tail fin.

Though he has no licence the youth was a member of the club and had about 70 hours of flying time.