DIVE INTO BREAKERS

Evening Star, Issue 22620, 12 April 1937, Page 8

DIVE INTO BREAKERS

PLANE IN FLAT SPIN PILOT RESCUED PRACTICALLY UNHURT [Per United Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, April 11. Crashing into the sea about 220yds from the shore near Greymouth Aerodrome, at 2 p.m. to-day, the West Coast Aero Club’s D.H. Moth, Z.K.A.D.Z, was extensively damaged, but the sole occupant, the pilot, Ivan Quinney (36), ot Greymouth, had a remarikable escape with no worse injury than a cut on the forehead. A rescue was effected by Ernest Price, a member of the Surf Club, with a lifeline. The plane was washed ashore by the breakers, and conveyed by lorry to the aerodrome.

Quinney holds an A endorsed passenger license. He was practising vertical turns at a height of I,oooft, and "apparently got back into his own slipstream, this causing the plane to go into a flat spin. Quinney extricated himself, but then got into another flat spin from which he was straightening out with a speed burst, but had lost too much altitude to recover, and glided fast into the sea., Splashing the water high and wide, the plane disappeared, eye witnesses fearing the worst, but the tail seem, emerged, and "the pilot was seen standing on it. , The breakers forced the onlookers to desist when attempting to swim out, but within a few minutes Surf Club members arrived with gear, Price rescuing Quinney, who was admitted to hospital, but is leaving to-morrow. The plane was hauled lip as the tide receded, hut is regarded as nearly a total loss, after being only last week recommissioned following the repairing of damage done in a mishap at Hokxtika a few weeks ago.