PILOT AND CO-PILOT LOSE LIVES

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 191, 11 May 1938, Page 12

PILOT AND CO-PILOT LOSE LIVES

Machine Strikes Clump Of Trees And Bursts Into Flames Bv Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland. May 10. Tn tragic circumstances to-day a senior pilot of Union Airways Limited, Commander C. M. Duthie, and his co-pilot, Second Officer W. J. Peel, were killed or burnt to death when the Lockheed. Electra monoplane Kotare crashed and burst into flames a few minutes after taking off on her return flight from Mangere to Wellington. There were no passengers. Union Airways' officials who watched the crash with horrified eves, were powerless to heli) the airmen, who were, incinerated in the blazing machine within a few seconds of the crash. Eye-witnesses state that the monoplane took off on its return flight half an hour after arriving from Wellington. The Kotare had been subjected to the usual survey. Conditions were clear and there was no hint of impending tragedy. The monoplane did not gain altitude and officials at the aerodrome watched her from the moment she took off till the crash.

The first announcement concerning the crash was made by Mr. C. B. V. Wheeler, manager of the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zea land, Limited, at Auckland, who reported that the Kot are. ZK-AFC, took off from Mangere for Wellington at the usual hour with two pilots and a quantity of mail. A few minutes after taking off the monoplane was seen to be forced down a mile west of the aerodrome. As the monoplane dropped she burst-into flames. Union Company representatives who saw the plane forced down were on the scene by motor-car and on foot within four minutes. When they arrived at the scene of the crash both pilots were dead. The service would not be interrupted, Mr, Wheeler said, because there was a spare plane which could be brought into use immediately.

The Lockheed had just come up from Wellington on the morning run, and Commander Keith Brownjolin, who piloted her, stated that to his knowledge the engines were in good order. He said he eould tell nothing of the tragedy, although he had seen the plane take off. With the usual cheery salutations to those about, Commander Duthie and Second Officer Peel had taken their seats at the controls. Then the big 12-passenger low-wing monoplane turned into the wind, sped down the runway and lifted over the creek below and turned her head north. As the plane left the ground watchers below had kept their eyes on her and saw her rise to take about the usual altitude when taking off and circle slowly, heading round toward the south. She did not gain altitude and the ground staff and Union Airways officers gathered about the hangar suddenly saw her plunge toward the ground. Then they saw her crash and a sudden burst of flame and smoke rose. For a moment, they all stood still. Then the onlookers rushed immediately to cars and, carrying emergency fire equipment with them, made up the road to the scene of the tragedy. It was a terrible sight that presented itself to them. Across a swatnpy creek among a clump of trees, some of which had been broken by the crash, lay the blazing structure of the plane, its wings crumpled back, its tail broken off

and its nose bent and embedded in the muddy ground. The cabin was a mass of flame, and, although Union Airways staff men tried to get close enough to use fire extinguishers, it was impossible because. of the heat of the flames. They "could see that it was impossible to do anything for the pilots trapped inside. Th\y would by that time have been already beyond help. Making heroic efforts, however, Mr. A. N. Patterson, the engineer, and other helpers gradually attacked the flames with extinguishers, and as the fire burnt out or was conquered, the charred bodies of the two men were revealed. From their position in the machine it was impossible to say definitely whether they had been killed instantaneously by the shock of the crash or whether they had been burnt as they attempted to make their way to the rear door. The latter theory seemed highly improbable in the circumstances. In the meantime ambulances had been called from the city and three machines were sent out. Grim Scene. At 1 o’clock the machine was still burning, and as yet those at the scene had been unable to take the remains of the.two men from it. It was a grim scene in the centre of the sunlit paddock. where, from the roadway, only the smoke rising above the trees told the story. Ambulances were lined up ready but unnecessary, and across the stream and in among the trees were groups of Maoris and local residents. A group of stern-faced men was working busily with fire-extinguishers or stood silent. Among them was Commander Brownjolin, With his hands on the controls the Kotare bad lifted above Rongotai, carrying six passengers. and had droned a fast and an even course along the. line of the North ,Island to its landing at Mangere at 11.45 after a final circle over the city of Auckland. Now it was a crumpled and pitiful mass of broken plates and steel framework. At the scene there was little Hint eould be done. When the (lames had died down sufficiently the bodies of the two men were removed a.s carefully as possible and were taken away to the morgue. The scene of the crash tint! the remains of the plane were then given over to Hie police. An inquiry will be held later. Aside from the immediate tragedy, the crash of the Kotare had another significance. It marred tlie hitherto clean record of New Zealand’s .major airline and it was the first accident that, had befallen one of the airliners employed by Union Airways ou main trunk services. Fortunate only in 'he circumstances was the fact that on this flight there were no passengers. Passengers who arrived by the plane this morning were Mrs. D. McMillan, from Wellington. Mr. E. (’. Triekey. from Palmerston North, anti Ml'. S. J. Gudsell. Mrs. E. McLean. Mr. 11. A. Purser and Mis s P. Purser, from New Plymouth.