INQUEST ON AIRCRAFTSMAN

Grey River Argus, 6 February 1941, Page 9

INQUEST ON AIRCRAFTSMAN

HIT BY TARANAKI PLANE NEW PLYMOUTH, February 5. A . court martial sat at the R.N.Z.A.F. Elementary Flying Training School, at Bell Block to-day to inquire into the circumstances of the accident on December 6, 1940, in which Leading Aircraftsman M. S. Best was struck and killed instantly by a plane in which were Flying OHicer C. Parker and a pupil. The court is resuming its sitting to-mor-row morning. The court is constituted as follows: President, Group Captain Hodson, A.F.C.; members, Squadron Leaders B. S. Nicholl, R. A. Kirkup, R. C. Ayling and Flight Lieutenant R. J. Makgill; Prosecutor, Flying Officer Jackson; Defending Officer, Flight Lieutenant A. G. Hill.

The circumstances of the accident were that, accompanied by another airman-pilot undergoing training, the deceased was returning from the rifle range at the extreme northern corner of the landing ground. To reach the school buildings, they skirted the aerodrome, walking near tile boundary, and they were about a quarter of the way round when a landing plane, containing a pupil, killed Best.

with his pilot-instructor, struck and The impact was not seen by the dead man’s companion, because he threw himself to the ground as the plane approached. It was assumed from a subsequent inspection of the plane that one of the wheels struck Best.