CAUSE OF CRASH IN SIAM BRINSMEAD'S MISSION

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 138, 8 December 1931, Page 7

CAUSE OF CRASH IN SIAM

BRINSMEAD'S MISSION

DUTCH 'PLANE OVERLOADED

BRINSMEAD'S INJURIES

United Press Association—By Electric Tele^

ErapK Copyright.

SINGAPORE, 7th December.

' The Dutch mail aeroplane crash at Donmuang, Siam, in which, five persons were killed and. Colonel Brinamead, Australian Director of Aviation, severely injuried, was due to the heavy Christmas mail, which was held up by floods. The ground was soft owiug to rains. The 'piano arrived from Alor Star on Saturday afternoon. On. Sunday morning the same 'plane made unsuccessful attempts to rise. It taxied a mile across the aerodrome to the end of the field, where there are two canals bordered by embankments several feet high. It appears that the pilot made, a final effort to lift the 'plane, which, rose about three feet over the canal, but the wheels collided with the embankment. ,

The 'plane nose-dived into a ricefield with such force that the motors were forced into the cabin, killing outright the French city engineer at Bangkok, a Dutch commercial traveller, tho second pilot, and a mechanic. : The ground staff immediately rushed to the scene. '

Colonel Brinsmead . was extracted from the wreckage with serious: injuries. He was unconscious. The first pilot was also badly, hurt, and subsequently died. , Colonel Brinsmead's condition is critical.

Kingsford Smith arrived five hours later and proceeded to Kangoon.

This is'the first serious accident that has overtaken the Dutch mail service since its inception over two years ago. The mileage covered is 833,000.