5,400 FEET CRASH

Grey River Argus, 4 May 1931, Page 5

5,400 FEET CRASH

QUILLER KILLED ’CHUTE FAILS TO OPEN His Body in a Pulp (Par Pi ess Association.) OAMARU, May 3. In the full view of 1400 horrified spectators the Norwegian parachutist, Haakon Quiller, aged 35 years, crashed to death from a plane piloted by Captain White, at an altitude of 5400 feet, on Saturday afternoon. The tragedy happened during a demonstration in aid of the formation of the local Aero Club. The machine rose from a paddock near the racecourse, and it circled around five times in order to gain the necessary altitude.

Quiller jumped clear of the machine. His parachute failed to open immediately, and consequently the crowd thought that this was part of the demonstration.

Down to within two hundred feet of the ground, Quiller fought frantically to open the parachute. Then he appeared to lose consciousness.

His impact with the grotind was so terrific that his body was literally smashed to pieces. Captain White is of the opinion that the swinging of his body drew the cords of the parachute together, and tightened them.

The last words of the ill-fated parachutist on leaving the plane were: “I think this one will be all right’’’

The deceased was a native of Oslo, Norway. He had no relatives in New Zealand. The Waitaki Ambulance, which was on the scene, was summoned to the spot where the parachutist had fallen, but the body was found smashed up. Quiller, before ascending, explained bow the parachute was operated. He opened it On the ground. He then rolled it up and adjusted the equipment on his back. Ho asked the pilot of the plant*. Captain White, to ascend to an altitude of 5000 feet. White circled half a dozen times to gain the altitude desired and then turned to face into the wind, flying level. The parachutist was seen on a wing of the plane preparatory to making his jump, and the crowd saw him leap into the air. It was thought that he would not open his parachute until he had dropped a considerable distance, intending to make a short landing from 1000 feet. It became obvious that he was in difficulties at about this height, when he began to somersault.

Lieutenant Quiller crashed to the ground in an empty paddock at a terrific velocity, and the thud of his fall was heard all over the field. The body of the man was unrecognisable, having been shockingly mutilated as a result of the, fall. At first it was thought th it he was going to drop at least two-thirds of tn? distance before pulling the rip cord, but apprehension swept the crowd when it was noticed that he was below the safety limit, somersaulting to the ground.

The* deceased made some wonderful descents in European countries, Australia and New Zealand. Tie thrilled a large crowd at the Wigram Aerodrome on April 4, when he made two descents. For the first jump he used his own parachute, which opens automatically. In the second descent he left the plane at 3000 feet and did not open the parachute until he had fallen two thirds of the distance. He landed on all fours and bumped his head on the ground, receiving a cut above one eye. II j stated afterwards that he had become giddy during the fall, the first time it had happened. Quiller made a descent last Monday at West port from a height of SOO feet. He intended returning to the West Coast to make a descent at Greymouth.

Lieutenant Quiller did a groat deal of testing work and made many descents in Germany. He was invited to visit New Zealand and was making descents and giving demonstrations in the use of the parachute in all the larger towns of the Dominion.

Captain T. W. White, who was flying the plane from which Lieutenant Quiller jumped, is an experienced airman. well known throughout the Dominion. For some time he was instructor to the Hawke’s Bay Aero Club, and had a fine record there. Latterly he has been touring the South Island giving joy rides iu country centres. His machine is a Spartan. During .the earthquake he carried mail from Hawke’s Bay. He was a lieutenant in the Territorial Air Force.