Mother plans to fly again after crash

Press, 24 February 1986, Page 13

Mother plans to fly again after crash

PA Masterton “After a plane crash they normally certify you and put you in a box. I was pleased the flowers were in my room and not on top of me.” Mrs Jeanette Lambert, of Masterton, who got out of hospital recently, wants to fly again. The 34-year-old mother was pulled from the wreckage of a Piper Tomahawk, the light plane she was learning to fly. The accident happened on January 28 when the plane Mrs Lambert and her instructor, Mr Lloyd Anderson, were in came down on a farm about skm from Alfredton. Mrs Lambert does not remember much about the accident. “I can remember heading for the hills, and when we realised we weren’t going to make it up them we turned back. We must have been caught in a downdraft...”

She was due shortly to sit her private pilot’s

licence. “Lloyd really saved us. Apparently he took over control and kept the plane from going into too much of a spin. He almost glided it down before the left wing dropped and then we just nosedived.” Debris from the Piper was spread for nearly 20 metres round. The engine assembly ended up three metres behind the cockpit Mr Jonathan McKay, owner of the farm the plane crashed on, was working on his tractor nearby. He rushed over to the plane and beat out a small fire. Mr Anderson had been thrown clear, breaking an arm and leg. Mrs Lambert was still harnessed into the cockpit, and Mr McKay pulled her out before calling for help. Mrs Lambert had a staggering list of injuries. Her left elbow was badly broken, and has had to be wired. Her right

kneecap was almost ripped off, and the tendons badly damaged. She cracked her ankle, ripped the tendons in her right hand, tore her right eyelid almost off and broke a rib. Her face and legs were severly lacerated, and some of her teeth chipped.

Mrs Lambert was flown to Masterton hospital by helicopter, and Mr Anderson went by ambulance. Two days out of hospital Mrs Lambert appeared happy and in remarkably good spirits.

“The doctors were surprised at how fast I got well,” she said,

“But I believe it’s all to do with attitude.

“I remember the district nurse telling me that help was on the way, and I remember seeing the helicopter arrive, but that’s all.”

She spent 4 y 2 hours in surgery. Mrs Lambert is full of praise for everyone from the farmer who found

them, the district nurse, the emergency services, and hospital staff, to even strangers who have been so caring.

“I can’t thank them enough... Everyone was fantastic. My doctors, my husband and children, my mum...” Mrs Lambert’s mother, Mrs Beryl Kay, has travelled from Rotorua to stay with her daughter for six months.

“If she keeps on getting well at this rate, I won’t be needed for even six weeks,” said Mrs Kay. “One of the first things she said to me was ‘look at my flowers mum. I’m so lucky to be able to see them’.”

Mrs Lambert believes that “when your number’s up your number’s up,” but would like to get back to the skies.

“Oh I want to fly again if my nerve holds. My husband, Robert, wants to be my first passenger. “I have a lot of living to do yet... and I will.”