AEROPLANE CRASHES

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 232, 27 June 1932, Page 10

AEROPLANE CRASHES

Fall from 300 Feet CARTERTON ACCIDENT Occupants’ Lucky Escape Dominion Special Service. Masterton, June 26.

Pilot and passenger had a remarkable escape when their machine stalled at 300 feet and crashed into the grounds of a residence at South Carterton shortly before midday on Saturday. The machine was wrecked and the pilot, Mr. lan McLaren, received cuts to his face, chiefly from the broken glass of his goggles, but his passenger, Mr. A. H. Fear, Wellington, was unscathed. Both suffered severe shock. Mr. McLaren, who is an Endorsed A pilot, Is a son of Mr. and Mrs. H. S. McLaren, Wellington, and was flying with the Wairarapa Aero Club. Mr. Fear was recently awarded a permanent commission in the Royal Air force and sails for England on Thursday. Both were former residents of Masterton. The machine, the Wairarapa Aero Club’s metal moth ZK—ABE, was flying from Wellington to Masterton, and when passing over South Carterton the pilot reduced his. height considerably to circle over the house of friends. While turning at a height said to be 300 feet, the aeroplane stalled and crashed on the property of T. G. Basset, dairy farmer, about four chains from the house. Most of the force of the Impact was taken by the left wing of the machine, which saved the occupants but resulted in extensive damage being done to the machine. The accident will be the subject of a Court of Inquiry and the finding will probably be made public. On examination of the aeroplane, Flying-Officer J. M. Buckeridge, pilotinstructor to the Wairarapa Aero Club, and Mr. J. H. Preston, the ground engineer, found that the four wings were smashed, the undercarriage torn off and the fuselage wrecked. The engine was intact but the body of the machine will have to be entirely re built, and the aeroplane will be out of commission for at least two months, > It had' only been in the air a fortnight, following the crash at Woodville a few weeks ago.