AIRLINER CRASHES

Evening Star, Issue 22953, 10 May 1938, Page 8

AIRLINER CRASHES

BURSTS INTO FUMES BOTH PILOTS KILLED NO PASSENGERSOM BOARD [Peb United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, May 10. The Lockheed passenger plane, Kotare, outward bound, was forced down one mile west of the Mangere aerodrome at 12.20, after having taken off for Wellington. It burst into flames on striking the ground. Both pilots were either killed or burnt to death. Their names are C. M. Duthie and W. i. Peel. There were no passengers aboard. The manager of Union Airways said the ground man at the aero* drome saw the machine being forced down. He motored along the road, and ran across a paddock, reaching the scene four minutes after the crash. On reporting to headquarters all he could say was that both pilots were dead. EARLY IN TROUBLE FORGED DOWN NEAR AERODROME WELLINGTON, May 10. The Union Airways head office received the following advice from Auckland this morning:— “ Regfet to advise that the Lockheed A.F.C. Kotare, with Pilots Duthie and Peel, but no passengers, after taking off was observed to be in difficulties, landing one mile on the west side of the aerodrome at approximately 12.22 p.m. It burst into flames, and I am afraid there is no doubt but both pilots were killed.” Tha machine was Scheduled to leave Auckland at 12.15 p.m, THE PILOTS . DUTHIE ONLY RECENTLY HARRIED [Per United PhEH Association.) AUCKLAND, May 10. Duthie, aged 30, was married only a few months ago. The widow is at preseht spending, a holiday at Feilding with his parents. Peel (22) was unffldrried. Duthie was in the Palmerston NorthDunedin service before the service- was extended to Auckland about a year ago. He was one of the company’s senior pilots, and had long flying experience. Peel had been with the company about 18 months. CRASH IN TREES The monoplane crashed in a' clump of trees, and burst into flames. There, were no passengers for Wellington, although six passengers had arrived from the south. The Kotare had arrived from Wellington this morning in charge of Commander Keith Brownjohn. He said that, as far as he knew, the engines were all right. Mr Wheeler, manager of the Union Company, said there would be no interruption in the service, as a spare plane could be brought into use immediately. '