’PLANE WRECKED

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 12885, 11 June 1936, Page 2

’PLANE WRECKED

CRASH AT BLENHEIM SEQUEL TO FORCED LANDING TWO OCCUPANTS ESCAPE UNHURT • Press Association). BLENHEIM, June 1(). The Dominion’s- first aero club machine, the Moth ZIv—AAA, belonging to- the Marlborough Aero Club was wrecked this morning as the result of a forced landing in. the front garden of a house near the m uni ci pa 1 aor od romo. The accident occurred in the course of a training ilighb by the pilot instructor, Squadron-Leader N. C. Chandler, who was accompanied, by a pupil, Pilot A. Griffin, of Nelson. Both escaped injury.

Shortly alter taking off. SquadronLeader Chandler discovered that Ills rudder control was not operating. He elected to effect a, quick landing in a near-by paddock. Trees, in the vicinity necessitated a sharp descent and the machine struck a wire fence.

Eye-witnesses state that- the plane bounced into the air almost in ironl of the house of Mr. F. B. Porter and caught a -service electric, line which it brought down, ripping a- large board off the house. Miraculously the live wires did not ignite the plane, which crashed in an inverted position a few feet from the cottage. The occupants of the plane struggled from the wreckage without even a scratch. The plane broke its back at the cockpits-, while the wings were spreadcaglcd and damaged. The machine liais an interesting history. J.t- was a gift from Baron Wakefield to New Zealand in 19291 and was allotted by the. Government- to the Marlborough Aero Club. Subsequently Squadron-Leader Chandler effected a forced landing in it in tho sea at Ship’s Cove, Charlotte Sound. The piano has been rebuilt several times after smashes, and little of the original machine remains except, the identification letters, which were tile first issued” - under the present system.