DOMINION ITEMS

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 September 1944, Page 6

DOMINION ITEMS

AERIAL TRAGEDY. * NEW PLYMOUTH, September 26. An inquest into the deaths of Flight Sergeant John Paterson Cummins (Wellington) and Sergeant Maurice Roy Haycock (Nelson), killed when an aircraft of the R.N.Z.A.F. crashed at Mt. Egmorit on September 4, opened to-day. The radio operator . Flight Sergeant Alexander Frederick Peterson, New Plymouth, who was injured when the plane crashed said the plane'was flying at 200 feet Tinder cloud. Approaching the mountain the cloud and ground met., They climbed almost vertically then levelled out. He saw trees above the plane. He braced himself for the crash which occurred at 3.15 p.m. t The inquest was adjourned till Tuesday. The other survivor, Sergeant Alexander Aslin Rough, is still in hospital, and will give evidence there tomorrow.

MERCER PLANE CRASH NELSON, Sept. 26. An inquiry into the crash of Air Travel (N.Z.) Ltd.’s plane on the slopes of Mount Hope on June 30 has opened. The board comprises Mr. Stilwell S.M., Wing Commander G. B. Bolt, Wing Commander H. C. Walker, Roy Kean, Wing Commander R.N.Z.A.F. The Inspector of Accidents stated that his investigation showed there was nothing that indicated defects in the plane, or dereliction of duty by the responsible persons. William Dini, engineer at Hokitika, gave evidence of checking the machine and signing the certificate of safety. Kelvin Jones, Traffic Superintendent, produced manifests showing that the weight load 1065 lbs. was within the permissible maximum of 1,623 lbs. (Proceeding.)