AERIAL CRASH

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 October 1932, Page 7

AERIAL CRASH

EVIDENCE AT INQUEST

CAUSE OF TRAGEDY

[pee press association.]

WELLINGTON, October 28

The inquest on the two airmen, Gresser and King, was held to-day. After hearing the evidence of< Squadron-Leader Stedman, Constable Tocker of Johnsonville, Capt. Bolt, and A; W. Nisbet, Coroner Gilbertson returned a verdict that the men sustained fatal injuries, when their aeroplane crashed into a hill.

The Coroner said that the tragedy was one of those unfortunate accidents that happen in flying. The pilot iiK'this case had apparently taken a chance. He should have followed the instructions of Bolt, regarding the route, but had not -done so, and had flown into a hill at a terrific rate, and both men had been killed instantaneously. In the course of his evidence, Squadron Leader Stedman said he considered Gresser a safe enough pilot in good weather, but he would be rather unreliable in case of extreme emergency. Stedman mentioned that the weather conditions were all right from Paekakariki north, but between there and Wellington clouds were low particularly at Johnsonville, where they were right on top of the hills. Three other machines had got through from New Plymouth but had crossed the range of hills farther north, and flown down the Hutt Valley. Stedman said there was no occasion for Gresser to have gone into the clouds. Captain Bolt gave evidence of landing at Wanganui, and meeting Gresser, who was then waiting for a bettei weather report from Wellington. Witness told him to wait at Palmerston until witness rang him from Wellington. After he got through, witness got in touch with Gresser at Palmerston, and told him he had got through quite easily itno Upper Hutt. The actual crossing of the hills was made over a low saddle where Moonshine Road goes. Witness told Gresser to try that route, and if he could not get through there, to try the usual route, and if he could not get through there to come down the coast. Gresser was bound under the rules of the Club to follow witness’s instructions. He also told Gresser if he got into any difficulty to return to Levin. Witness, to the Coroner, said it was quite all right for Gresser to come down the Johnsonville route, but he could not understand him flying into the clouds.

When Mr. Nisbet, secretary of the Aero Club, was proposed as a witness, the Coroner remarked he was satisfied that the Club was not to blame in any way. It seemed to him that the man was an embryo flyer, and didn’t know enough, and lost his head. After Nisbet had given evidence, the Coroner said he had no doubt the officials of the Club had done all in their power to give flyers information as to the weather conditions and the right course to take, and, subsequently to find them. RESCUED GERMAN. SYDNEY, October 27. Captain Hans Bertram, the German aviator, who was lost in the wilds of North Australia, arrived at Sydney today. He was attended by an aerial escort of six local aeroplanes. He spent the night at Canberra. The main object of his visit is to thank the Federal Government for the assistance rendered in rescuing him and his partner, Klausmann. A thanksgiving service was held at the Canberra Anglican Church, attended by Members of Parliament and prominent citizens. Captain Bertram continued his flight to Sydney to-day in his famous Junkers monoplane. He was enthusiastically welcomed by two hundred .people, the German Consul and other representative persons.