Light aircraft crashes in fog

Press, 15 June 1979, Page 2

Light aircraft crashes in fog

A light aircraft nose-dived into a paddock in thick fog near the Gary and Ashley rivers late on Wednesday afternoon.

The two occupants were able to walk away from the wrecked plane but one was believed to have suffered minor injuries, possibly broken ribs. A fanner in the area tele-

phoned the Rangiora police at 4.30 p.m. to report the crash.

He said the Piper Pawnee Brave aircraft, owned by Airwork (New Zealand) Ltd, had flown over the area as though looking for a place to land.

He tried to guide the pilot down by using the lights of his tractor, but the plane

flew on over the Ashley River and crashed. An onlooker on the other side of the river said the plane suddenly nose-dived into the ground. The left wing was clipped off, the undercarriage tom, and the propeller bent. The fuel tank was ruptured, but did not explode. One onlooker said he did

not think the occupants of the aircraft could have survived the crash.

Farmers in the area said the fog had reduced visibility to about 6m. The pilot and his passenger did not want to be named. Representatives of Airwork, Ltd, could not be reached yesterday for comment.