N.Z. AIRWAYS PLANE IS DAMAGED IN BEACH LANDING

Grey River Argus, 20 April 1948, Page 5

N.Z. AIRWAYS PLANE IS DAMAGED IN BEACH LANDING

Strikes Storm at Tauranga P.A. WELLINGTON, April 19 An Electra aircraft of the National Airways Corporation was extensively damaged when it made a forced landing on the beach at Tauranga, during a violent electrical storm this afternoon. There were ten passengers and a crew of two. -None was injured.

The Corporation reported, this evening, that the aircraft, the “Kahu,” was flying a normal Auckland-Taur-anga-Gisborne passenger journey. It was approaching Tauranga at 3.15 p.m., when it ran into a violent electrical storm and heavy rain. The Tauranga aerodrome was obscured. The plane landed on the beach, with one of the wings over the Water and one over the beach.

The aircraft was extensively damaged. There were no casualties among the passengers and crew nor was the freight and baggage damaged, apart from some newspapers damaged by water. Arrangements have been made by the Corporation to avoid any further interruption of tne flying Schedule. The passengers have been accommodated for the night at Tauranga. A relief plane will fly to Tauranga aerodrome at daybreak to take over the running. Considerable repair work will be necessary before the damaged aircraft is in service again. Pilot Averts Worse Results by Beach Descent P.A. AUCKLAND, April 19. The “Kahu” was struck by-a downdraught during the sudden thunderstorm at Tauranga to-day. She was going to Tauranga and Gisborne. At 2.35 p.m. she was forced down on the harbour near Whareroa. The “Kohu” was extensively damaged. The aircraft was banking to land when it was struck, and came to rest in the water just off the beach, and only about 100 yards from the Tauranga aerodrome. The “Kahu” was piloted by Commander A. C. Harris, who had as his co-piiot Mr G. E. Bruce.

There was a full complement of passengers, eight of whom were travelling to Tauranga, and two to Gisborne. Rescue launches were promptly on the spot. They took the passengers from the aircraft to the shore. Apart from the effect which the salt water may have upon the aircraft, it was extensively damaged. One wing was crumpled. The other wing was less seriously knocked about. Both propellers were folded. The whole rear assembly of the fuselage was pushed into the centre of the plane. The pilot acted promptly to prevent a more serious accident. Visibility was restricted to about half a mile when the accident occurred. One of the passengers said they could not see anything in front of them when they were struck by a storm pocket. The incident seemed to happen within eight or ten seconds. The mail and passengers’ luggage in the aircraft weie salvaged. Shortly after the accident a party left Auckland to salvage the wrecked plane. This accident is the first experienced by the Corporation on the internal airlines since it took them over two years ago.

Another Beach Landing by Club Plane Near Kawhia

P.A. NEW PLYMOUTH, April 19. A forced landing was made safely by a Waikato Aero Club Tiger Moth plane, piloted by W. Christopherson, on Marokopa Beach, about thirty miles south of Kawhia, about 6 p.m. to-day.

Widespread inquiries were made m the King Country by the Flying Control at Hamilton before the whereabouts of the machine was discovered. When en route to Rukuhia from Palmerston North, the machine was heard over Karioi at 5 p.m. Wh'en he ran into bad weather, near Te Kuiti, Christopherson decided to fly along the coast to Raglan, but with the darkness closing in, he landed at Marokopa.

Mid-Pacific Crash of Large Plane is Reported

[N.Z.P.A.—Reuter Cable]. (Rec. 10.35). MANILA, April 19.

The steamship, General Mitchell, yesterday reported to the United States military and naval authorities in Manila that a large, unidentified plane was reported to have ’ crashed in the Pacific about 450 miles north of the Philippines, at about 5.50 o’clock on Saturday evening.