AIRMEN'S DEATHS

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 103, 28 October 1932, Page 8

AIRMEN'S DEATHS

LOST IN CLOUDS

EVIDENCE AT' INQUEST

The inquest on Francis Gresser, aged 39, and George Bourne Steven King, aged 34, the two men who were killed in the flying fatality on Tuesday afternoon, was held to-day. After hearing the evidence of Squadron-Leader G. L. Stedman, Constable Tocker, of Johnsonville, Captain G. B. Bolt, and Mr. A. W. Nisbet, the Coroner (Mr. E. Gilbertson) returned a verdict that the men sustained fatal injuries when their aeroplane crashed into the hill, which was obscured on account of the foggy atmospheric conditions. It was one of those unfortunate accidents that happen in flying, he said. The pilot had apparently taken a chance. He should have followed the instructions of Captain Bolt regarding his route, but he had not done so, and had flown into the hill at terrific speed and both men had been killed instantaneously. ■ In the course of his evidence, Squad-ron-Leader Stedman said that the machine was the "Wellington Aero Club's best Moth. On the day of the fatality the weather conditions for flying were all right from Paekakariki north, but between there and Wellington the clouds were low, particularly at Johnsonville, where they covered the hilltops. Three other machines had got through from New Plymouth but had crossed the range of hills further north and had flown down the Hutt Valley. PILOT'S QUALIFICATIONS.' Witness said he had known the deceased Gresser for two years. The deceased held an A pilot's licence endorsed for carrying passengers. "I considered Gresser was _a safe enough pilot in good weather, but he would be rather unreliable in a case of extreme emergency," he said. Senior-Sergeant Caldwell: From the position where the aeroplane was found, are you in a position to say what was the cause of the accident1? Squadron-Leader Stedman: "Well, I think it is quite obvious they got into the clouds, lost their way, and crashed into the hill. The witness said that it was pretty evident'from the time of the crash and the place of the crash that there, was plenty of benzine in the tank. The Coroner: You don't think Mr. Gresser was careless? Witness: No, I wouldn't say he was careless, but there was no necessity for him to go into the clouds. Why he did that I don't know. In answer to Mr. G. Powles, who was appearing on behalf of the • Wellington Aero Club, Squadron-Leader Stedman said that when he was communicated with from Wanganui he had recommended Gresser to cross into the Hutt Valley vid the Moonshine. - Mr. Powles: Do you think Gresser took the best possible course? Witness: • Well, under- the circum-. stances he took the wrong course, but he took the course usually taken in clear weather of coming in over Porirua harbour, Johnsonville, and Ngahauranga to Rongotai. Mr. Powles: You think probably he committed an error of judgment in not crossing into tho Hutt Valley further north? Witness: Yes. ADVICE AS TO ROUTES. George Bruce Bolt, pilot-engineer to the Wellington Aero Club, said he left New Plymouth about an hour after the deceased on the morning of the tragedy. He landed at Wanganui and met Gresser, who was then waiting for a better weather report from Wellington. The weather at Wanganui at that time was very good for flying. He told Gresser to wait at Palmerston K"orth until witness x rang him from Wellington. On arriving at Wellington witness got into touch with Gresser, at Palmerston North, and told him that he (witness) had got, through quite easily to TJpper Hutt. The actual crossing of the hills was jnade across the lbw saddle whetg^, tire. Moonshine road went through. "Witness told Gresser to try that route and if tie could not get through there to try the usual route, and if he could not get through there to come down the coast. Gresser was bound under the rules of the club to follow witness's instructions. Witness also told Gresser that if he got into any difficulty he shduld return to Levin. . j The Coroner: How do you account for him not following these instructions? The witness: It was quite all right for him to come down the Johnsonville route, but I can't understand him flying into the clouds. A HTJNDKED MILES AN HOUR. In answer to further questions from the Coroner, Captain Bolt said he considered that the speed at the time the aeroplane crashed must have been at least 100 miles an hour. When Mr. Powles proposed calling Mr. Nisbet, the secretary of the Wellington Aero Club, the Coroner remarked that he supposed counsel wanted to justify the club. "Well, I'm satisfied the club was not to blame in any way,'? he said. "It seems to me that the man. was an embryo flyer, didn't know enough, and "lost his head." After Mr. Nisbet had given evidence, the Coroner, in returning his verdict, said there was no doubt that the officials of the club had done all in their power to give the flyers information as to the weather conditions and-the right course to take, and subsequently find and rescue them. .