AERIAL TRAGEDY

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 March 1930, Page 7

AERIAL TRAGEDY

EVIDENCE AT INQUEST "BUMP" CAUSES LOST CONTROL [BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYBIGHT.] (Recd. March 29, Noon) HOBART, March 29. At the resumed inquest on McGowan, the victim of the naval plane crash, Pilot Officer Grant gave evidence that he felt an air bump. The machine went into a spinning dive from two thousand feet. He tried all means to regain control, but failed. He had not noticed any air disturbances following the shell explosions, which were too far off. Lieutenant Elliott said the plane struck the water at a speed of about a hundred and fifty miles hourly. CERTIFICATE SUSPENDED MELBOURNE, March 29. The Minister of defence announces that he has suspended the certificate of William Joseph Powell, civil air pilot who crashed last week-end in a street at Maroubra Junction, Sydney while flying at a low altitude, expressly forbidden by the regulations, while over a town. TRANS-AUSTRALIAN PROGRESS. BRISBANE, March 28. . Advices from Camooweal state that the airmen Smith and Shiers in the “City of Sydney” have left for Newcastle Waters. They hope to reach Wyndham and to take off from there on the first hop to England to-morrow. Piper and Kay plan to stay at Camooweal to-day, and to arrive at Sydney on Monday. They report that they had not had any engine trouble but they missed the track at Newcastle Waters. The tail of their machine hit an ant hill when they were landing at Tennant’s Creek, but only slight damage resulted. ECKENER HONOURED WASHINGTON, March 28. Commander Eckner, was presented with the National Geographical Society’s special gold medal for his Zeppelin world flight. Only ten other men have received this award in the last 42 years. Colonel Lindberg and Admiral Byrd are included'in the list.