PLANE PANCAKED

Grey River Argus, 16 December 1937, Page 6

PLANE PANCAKED

BY MARLBOROUGH TRAINEE. [Per Press Association]. BLENHEIM, December 15. One of the Marlborough Aero Club’s machines, the Moth “Z.K.A.E.M.,” was extensively damaged this afternoon at 3.40 when it figured in a pancake landing on Blenheim aerodrome. Minor injuries were sustained by the sole occupant, John Patrick Scott Stocker, aged 24, a Civil Reserve trainee, son of Mr G. K. I. Stocker, dentist, Blenheim. Stocker was making his first solo flight, and was coming into an otherwise perfect approach to land in the middle of the aerodrome, when he flattened out about ten feet above the ground, and pancaked, the machine turning on to its back. Help was immediately at hand, and the pilot was quickly extricated, the only ill-effects being cuts on his face, bruises, and slight shock. He was admitted to hospital for treatment and observation. The principal damage to the machine is a broken back near the forward cockpit. As none of the club’s other three planes is at present available for training, any considerable activity in this direction will be suspended in the meantime.