A 'PLANE CRASHES

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 21, 26 January 1931, Page 10

A 'PLANE CRASHES

PILOT AVOIDS CKOWD

INCIDENT AT PAGEANT

(By Telegraph.) (Special to "Tho Evening Post.") | AUCKLAND, 24th January. A spectacular crash, fortunately without any injury to the pilot, occurred during tho Auckland Aero Club's display at the Mangere Aerodrome, a Moth machine, piloted by Mr.. G. M. lftrth, falling from a height of about SO feet, and being extensively damaged.

The accident was witnessed by a largo number of people and the machine landed just clear of the crowd in a paddock south of the hangars. By the time the first spectators had reached tho machine, Mr. Firth had climbed from the cockpit, being only slightly shaken. It is thought that tho crash was caused throiigh a defective petroltap. ■ The machine was the club's ZKA.AK, which had been in use during the morning, and was- allotted to Mr. Firth to use in the- bombing competition. He rook off into the wind, but tho machine was only about 50 feet from the ground when the engine began . to splutter and miss badly. Tho machine .rapidly lost flying speed and as tho pilot saw ho was directly over tho crowd he started a forced landing and attempted to turn back on to the aerodrome, apparently, with tho intention of trying to land down wind. The engine was delivering practically no power and suddenly stalled. Mr. Firth straightened out on his original course in an endeavour to clear the crowd and the parked cars. The aeroplane, which was moving so slowly as to bo almost out of tho pilot's control, made little response to Mr. Firth's efforts to keep it aloft until tho crowd was passed, and fell suddenly. The impact of the crash drove the. landing gear up through the fuselage,' which was broken in half at the.passenger's cockpit. The- undercarriage was badly buckled and one of the propeller blades was snapped off short at tho boss.-The wings were not damaged and a cursory inspection *of the engine-failed to reveal any defect, although an overhaul will be necessary.

Immediately after tho crash a squad of mechanics, under the supervision of the ground engineer, Flying-Officer B. J. Copley, removed tho wings and cut the engine'free from the broken fuselage. Various portions of the wrecked machine were then conveyed to the hangar, where the necessary repairs will bo carried out. The machine will require a new fuselage and the damage is estimated at about £350- or £400.

Immediately after the crash Mr. Firth took up another Moth and carried on with tho bombing competition, which he eventually won.