FLYING MISHAP

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 48, 25 August 1930, Page 11

FLYING MISHAP

CRASH AT PAEKAKARIKI

PILOT TAKEN TO HOSPITAL

Sunning short of fuel while returning from Feilding yesterday afternoon, two members of the Wellington Aero Club, Messrs. C. M. Duthie and B. Berryman, decided to land in a field near Paekakariki. The former alighted successfully, but Mr. Berryinan's machine struck some telegraph lines and crashed. The pilot received fairly severe facial injuries and shock, and on his return to Wellington last night by ear went into the Bowen street private hospital.

Tho two pilots, both club-trained, left Eongotai at 9 o'clock yesterday morning for Feilding. Mr. Duthie was flying one of the club's Moths, and Mr. Berrj'man was piloting his Avro Avian, purchased a few weeks ago from Miss Aroha Clifford.

Feilding was reached without incident, and the return journey was commenced at about 1.45. Although the aeroplanes encountered, a strong southerly wind, they made good progress until thick, low-lying clouds were met with at Paekakariki. This necessitated making the rest of the trip by the coast route round Cape Terawhiti.

It was while the pilots were landing to refill their petrol tanks that the mishap occurred. Mr. Duthie landed without trouble, but Mr. Berryman made two unsuccessful attempts, and finally ran into a number of telegraph wires. The machine immediately tipped forward, and crashed, and was extensively damaged. Mr. Berryman was injured about the face, and he also suffered from shock. He was admitted to the hospital last evening, and is expected to be there for about a week or a fortnight.

After refuelling, Mr. Duthie continued his journey to Wellington by tho coast route, and reached Rongotai at 5.15 p.m. Tho club's pilot-instructor, Captain (J L Stedman, and the ground engineer, Mr. J. D. Campbell, left Wellington'this morning to dismantle the damaged machine and bring it into Ronsotni by road.