AVIATION

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 June 1934, Page 5

AVIATION

AUCKLAND MAN’S ESCAPE. I BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYEIGHT.] AUCKLAND, June 4. A miraculous escape from serious injury was experienced by an Auckland Aero Club A license pilot, Reginald Higgle, aged 35, married, when a Moth aeroplane which he was flying sold was wrecked after spinning from about 2,500 feet, near Mangere Aerodrome, this afternoon. Higgle escaped ■with cuts on the face and abrasions, and he went home after receiving medical attention. The machine, the property of the Auckland Aero Club, was damaged to the extent of about £6OO. It is doubtful whether it will be worth rebuilding it. The crash was witnessed by members of the staff and a large number of visitors, and’ all were amazed to see Diggle emerge from the wreckage and walk away, practically unhurt. “I put the machine into a righthand spin and when I thought it had gone far enough, having completed three or four turns, I tried to correct the spin in the usual manner,” said Diggle. “The Moth, however, failed to respond, and although it seemed to slow up somewhat, it lost height rapidly. Realising the machine was out of control. I tried to pu,ll her out of the spin by using the engine, but this had no effect, so I shut off again. By this time, I was only about 100 feet from the ground, and I knew I could do nothing to avert a crash. Just before hitting the ground, however, the machine stopped spinning, and went into a flat, turn, with the result that the wheels struck first. Everything seemed’ to collapse around me.” MASTE R T 0 N A C CID EN T. WELLINGTON, June 4. The aeroplane “Z.K. A.A.0.” was involved in a mishap at Masterton aerodrome yesterday. The machine was piloted by Peter Couchman and made rather a heavy landing about 4.30 p.m. The undercarriage and lower longerons were damaged. Neither Couchman nor his passenger was injured. JEAN BATTEN HAS COLD. SYDNEY, June 5. Jean Batten, who spent the weekend at Dalkeith Station, Cassilis, is the guest of Sir Frederick McMasters. In a telephone conversation with Sydney she admitted she lias a severe cold, but she is feeling well and returns to Sydney, to-day. in the plane Miss Southern Cross, piloted bv P. Hall.