PILOT’S LICENSE CANCELLED

Evening Star, Issue 22895, 1 March 1938, Page 8

PILOT’S LICENSE CANCELLED

THE RDMGOTAI FATALITY CULPABLE CARELESSNESS FOUND [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, March 1. The recommendation that the pilot should have his license cancelled for three months was submitted to the Minister in charge of the Air Department (Mr Jones) by the board of inquiry set up in connection with the accident to ZK-ABV, in which the passenger, R. L. Elliott, was killed and the pilot, William Smiliie injured at Rongotai Aerodrome on December 3. The board’s finding was that nonobservance of the circuit rule by Snlilhe was due to his culpable carelessness and neglect, and while it thinks that some of his actions when in difficulty were due to comparative inexperience, it holds that most of his difficulties arose from his own election to disregard an order specially drawn and promulgated to ensure safe and orderly air traffic control at the aerodrome. Smilhe was ordered to pay £IQ- towards the expenses of the inquiry. _ Three recommendations which are appended are being adopted by the Minister. They include one' that every notice to airmen issued in pursuance of regulations should be addressed and posted to every A pilot with his current license.