PLANE CRASH

Grey River Argus, 6 December 1932, Page 5

PLANE CRASH

McGEEGOR'S INJURIES SERIOUS. (Per Press Association). PALMERSTON NORTH, Dec. 5. When Squadrun Leader McGregor crashed he received severe head and back injuries. .McGregor is on the seriously ill list. His condition is unchanged. When th? mishap occurred, the airman was engaged in a balloon bursting competition. A balloon, driven by tricky wind, was pursued. It was 120 fe< ( up. McGregor apparently puf the machine into a short dive, and a haL' roll, with the intention, of catching the balloon o n the propeller as he rose. To the horror of the crowd, the machine went into a flat dive. It skimmed a barbed wire fence by a narrow margin, and landed in a field near the aerodrome at high, speed. The impact threw- tho machine along the ground for twenty yards before coming to rest. McGregor was bleeding profusely from a large gash in the head •and another across the eye. He was i (-moved to the hospital immediately. Tho machine was badly damaged. The wings were crumpled, the propeller splintered, and the under carriage totally wrecked. (Squadron Leader Wilkes, Director of the Air Services, yesterday held a formal enquiry. T,ho accident causes a severe loss to the Manawatu Club, which is noiv without a plane, at a time when a larg v number of pupils are being trained.