WRECK OF AIR LINER

Evening Star, Issue 23136, 9 December 1938, Page 9

WRECK OF AIR LINER

REPORT Of INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE STRONG COMMENTS Press Association — By Telegraph—Copyright CANBERRA, December 9. (Received December 9, at noon.) An error of observation by the pilot (Captain Webb) is held by the Air Accidents Investigation Committee to have caused the wreck of the air liner Kyeema, with the loss of 18 lives, on October 25. The committee says, however, that the error by tho pilot would not have been made if an ultra-high frequencey beacon, which was approved in March, 1937, had been operating on the day of the disaster. The committee finds that the provision of adequate safety machinery is the responsibility of the Civil Aviation Board, and strongly condemns the board on this and other grounds. The committee finds that the chief failure of tho Civil Aviation Board was due to the fact that the Controller-General (Captain Johnston) deliberately and persistently set his face against the decentralisation of the hoard. The report states: “The board is so constituted, either as to personnel or method of conducting its business, as to be incapable of any decisive action.” The one year’s delay in arranging beacon tests was due to the Civil Air Board and Mr Thorby, who were each responsible for a six-months’ hold up.

The report recommends the review of civil aviation administration and personnel, safety provision, the quick installation of radio beacons, and the appointment of flight-checking officers.