GRAPHIC STORIES OF CRASH

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

GRAPHIC STORIES OF CRASH

Accounts Of Eye-Witnesses

ONE ENGINE SAID TO HAVE CUT OUT Dominion Special Service.-' Auckland. May 10. Graphic stories of the crash are related by those who saw the disaster from Mangere aerodrome and from points further distant. Their stories showed that the crash was so sudden that it would have been impossible to save either of tlie two pilots. "I was working on a farm a few hundred yards away’/’ said a youth, Ray Andrews. "I first saw the plane just as she was clearing the aerodrome buildings and then I noticed that the left-hand engine had cut out. This caused me to watch the plane closer, and I saw it turn through south-west and west and toward the north-east. It was starting to lose height and when it reached the trees 1 sawe the whole machine split in half. The wings struck the trees near one of the engines. The machine was banking steeply when it crashed and I could see clearly that the left-hand engine had stopped. 1 ran as hard as I eould toward the clump of trees and lost my shoes in the mud on the way. The plane was a mass of flames when I reached it and I could do nothing.” A pupil member of the Auckland Aero Club said he was in Bapatoefoe, several miles away, when he saw the plane just, after it had taken off. He noticed that it was making a righthand turn and this fact held his attention because he said it was usual for a pilot to keep the aerodrome on his left hand when making such a turn. The plane was low off the ground when it reached the clump of trees and the wings seemed to be straight up and down, so steep was the bank. “It was a very tight turn and the plane just seemed to fall into a tree.” he added. “Not long after that I saw smoke begin to rise.” Propeller Not Functioning. "I am,spending a holiday in the district, and went across to the aerodrome to see the Lockheed arrive and take off again.” said Mr. Haddon Smith, member of the Now Plymouth Aero Club. "The plane arrived about 11.30. and took off again an hour/later. I took particular notice of the take-off.’' he continued. "'Tlie pilot commenced toriaxi into the wind just at the tailend of a heavy downpour of rain, and the Lockheed appeared to get into difficulties just as she commenced to rise.” It was only by clever manoeuvring that the pilot missed hitting the aero club's hangar. He was obliged to rise steeply to avoid a crash here. As he got into tlie air 1 noticed that tlie right-hand propeller was not functioning, which, of course, accounted for the trouble. “I watched the machine closely, and called out to some of the mechanics on the ground that one of the propellers was not working - . The plane proceeded in a circular direction as if the pilot had decided to get into the correct position to come back and land. He was making toward a clump of trees, and after a few moments I heard a loud crash and. simultaneously with this sound, liutws burst out of the clump of trees and leaped high into the air.

“Will) others I rushed across the lield. A number of the Union Airways officials had extinguishers with thorn, hut we found that nothing could be done. The plane was a mass of metal and burning petrol, ami it was difficult to gel near."

In the blackened mass of wreckage scattered amotnj burned trees in the gully it was dillicult to recognise the gleaming silver monoplane edged with .scarlet, that, had droned safely over the city less than an hour before. A cursory examination, however, showed that the engines were fairly intact and, although lhe airscrews were bent, it is possible the motors will be in a condition to indicate to experts Ih.e cause .of the sudden stoppage of one Of them. With lhe departure of the three ambulances which bad been called from the city, helpers turned their attention to the machine. Fire-extinguishers were used to quencli what remained of the Hames and precautions were taken Io prevent the removal of wreckage by reason of the fact that a number of people looking on had already taken away pieces of torn metal as souvenirs. A Vickers Vildebeesl plane from lhe lioyal New Zealand Air l-’oree base ar tlobsi.mville passed over (he wreck and landed at Mangcre. Tim pilot was Pilot < itlicer 1.. A. Robertson, who was accompanied by a sergeant. The machine was followed by one of lhe

naval Walrus Amphibians bringing more men. who formed a guard over the wrecked monoplane. The officer in charge at Hobsonville. Squadron Leader Olson, later arrived by motorcar to take charge of preliminaries to the official inquiry. Mails Destroyed.

Representatives of the Post and Telegraph Department also travelled to Mangcre as the wrecked machine bad been carrying a small quantity of mail, which was completely destroyed in the lire. The mail comprised .180 letters and three parcels, one bag being for Palmerston North, one for Wellington and one for Nelson. The mail included letters for Palmerston North, Wellington, Nelson, Timaru and Christchurch. Other oilieials of the company or people otherwise associated with the Lockheed machines will reach Auckland to-morrow morning from Wellington by train. They include Mr. F. Maurice Clarke, manager of Union Airways of New Zealand Limited, ami Mr. W. H. Hiudle. manager for New Zealand of Brown and Dureau Limited, agents for the Lockheed Corporation. It is expected Mr. F Sorrell, assistant aircraft inspector, will also travel to Auckland.