CRASH IN ALPS FEARED

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 257, 28 July 1939, Page 10

CRASH IN ALPS FEARED

Plane Fails To Reach Greymouth FEARS FOR SAFETY OF PILOT Search Party Out In Mountains AERIAL SURVEY PLANNED FOR TODAY By Telegraph—Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, July 27. It is feared that a West Coast aeroplane, piloted by Pilot Officer Lloyd Parry, crashed in the mountains between Bealey and Otira today on a Hight from Christchurch to Greymouth. Search parties are now out in the mountains, and tomorrow morning, if conditions permit, seven aeroplanes will leave from Wigram to conduct an aerial search in cooperation with West Coast machines. The aeroplane ZK-AFW, a Tiger Moth, owned by the Greymouth Aero Club, left Wigram on tiie return flight to Greymouth at 3.15 p.m. There were no passengers. Bilot Officer Parry’s machine did not arrive at the expected time at Greymouth, and soou anxiety was felt for his safety. It was known that, with a high southerly wind blowing over the Alps, he might have met some trouble. Inquiries made over a wide field showed that the aeroplane was last sighted flying high over the Bealey on the Canterbury side of the Alps. The machine when last seen was about to fly into southerly clouds over the most difficult and mountainous section of the route to Greymoutli. Since then no word has been heard of it. A big search party, conducted by police, set out from Otira late today to seek for signs of the missing aeroplane in the mountains about Arthurs Pass. ■ message from Greymouth this evening stated that grave fears were felt, for the pilot’s safety. Pilot Officer Parry is a young man, a son of Mi’, and Mrs. 11. T. Parry, formerly of Hokitika. The search party from Otira was still out in the mountains late tonight. In all 10 aeroplanes will take part in the aerial search tomorrow. It is thought that the strong wind seen to be blowing at a high altitude when the aeroplane was last seen would certainly have deflected it from a direct course to Greymouth, and the search will lie made over a wide area to the south. ICE MAY HAVE FORMED ON WINGS Theories About Possible Fate Of Plane Dominion Special Service. CHRISTCHURCH, July 27. The plane, which belongs to the West Coast United Aero Club, has a flying range of 21 hours. Usually the trip from Christchurch to Greymoutli occupies 14 hours. The machine, which was purchased by the club from the Government about 18 mouths ago, is equipped with blind-flying instruments, but. because of bright atmospheric conditions on the West Coast side of the Alps today, these would not be required till 5 p.m. Those who sighted the machine at Bealey state that it was flying up the Wainiakariri River in the direction of Hokitika. It may have made a forced lauding in mountainous country or crashed into the mountainside. Another theory is that, if the machine was flying at high altitude, as almost certain, ice may have formed on the wings and the pilot may have lost control. Mr. Parry is the holder of an A class licence and is a Civil Reserve trainee. Botli Arthur’s Pass and Otira tire in the normal route in the natural gat' l in the alps. The aeroplane took off at Christchurch in the teeth of n tierce gale. REPORTS OF HEARING PLANE Near Arthur’s Pass And At Otira By Telegraph—Press Association. GREYMOUTH, July 27. It is reported that several people heard Hie aeroplane about 4.39 o’clock near Arthur’s Pass, while two or three Otira people say they heard the plane at 4.45, but did not see it. It appeared to them that the plane was on the oilier side of Otira Gorge, it is possible that the plane would round the back of Taipo Gorge on the western side. A parly of six men tonight left Otira searching this side of the main range. Mr. Parry, who is 19 years of age. lias previously flown across tiie Alps. He is a son of Mr. Horace T. Parry. Christchurch, formerly of Hokitika, tr pioneer of aviation and ex-president of the West Coast United Aero Club. ZK-AFW was flown to Wigram about a fortnight ago by a member of the Greymoutli Aero Club, Mr. M. E. Spiers, whom weather conditions .then obliged to leave the machine there. Mr. Parry today undertook to fly it here, intending to return by rail-car tonight to Christchurch. A search will be made by Greymouth, Hokitika and Canterbury planes.