AIR CRASH ON EGMONT

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 6 October 1934, Page 6

AIR CRASH ON EGMONT

Insufficient Evidence to Show Cause of Accident

CORONER’S OPEN VERDICT

INQUEST CONCLUDED

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

NEW PLYMOUTH, Oct. 6

An inquest into the aeroplane disaster on the slopes of Mt. Egmont on September 13, in which Messrs S'. W. Green, pilot, and J. A. Austin, photographer, both of New Plymouth, lost their lives, opened before Mr W. H. Woodward this morning. Dr H. P. Grey, who was a member of the search party, testified that the death of both victims was instantaneous, due to head injuries. It was unnecessary to undo the safety belts, as both had been broken, be said. Robert Burrows, of Kaimiro, farmer and trapper, said that about 12.30 p.m. he heard a ’plane which seemed from the sound to be flying in a normal manner. Soon afterwards the engine seemed to be shut off for a few seconds, and then restarted, when it misfired badly and backfired. It seeemed to backfire for some time, then stop. Almost immediately afterwards a crash was heard. His son went to ’phone the police from Kaimiro, while he tried to locate the ’plane, but he failed to do so before nightfall. He had not seen the ’plane before the crash, a s he was in dense bush. Burrows was not sure of the direction of the wind which was blowing at the time. The ’plane was considerably higher than usual for that local itv. MACHINE TESTED

Flying-Officer lan Keith, pilot-in-structor to the Western Federated Aero Club, said he tested the machine on the morning of the crash and paid particular attention to the engine, which had been overhauled and checked again after test. Before leaving with Austin on his photographic trip, Green mentioned that he intended to fly at a height of 12,000 feet. FlyingOfficer Keith made some special remarks to Green concerning flying close to the mountain and also about the care that was necessary in keeping the engine warm; Green said in reply that he had had ope (fright previously, caused by a down draught, and he would always guard against that. Finally, Flying-Officer Keith mentioned what to do in the event of engine trouble. The weather and flying conditions on that day were good. Flying - Officer Keith said he had not met with unusually humpy conditions. Flying-Officer Keith was perfectly satisfied with the condition of the machine. Green was a skilled pilot who had made trips before with Austin.

lan Anderson, mechanic at the Bell Block aerodrome, also gave evidence as to the perfect condition of the engine. Squadron Leader Isitt, who examined the wreckage two days after the crash, said it was evident from the marks on the trees that the dive to earth was southwest with the possibility of a spin, but its effect on the path of the plane could not be calculated. The crash occurred on a steep hillside Avith n grade of one in three. It appeared that the machine was in a right-hand vertical bank when the final tree was struck. All the control cables of the plane were broken with the exception of the upper and right hand elevator control cables. The Avings Avere smashed beyong identification and the instruments so badly damaged that nothing could be learned from them. The aircraft apparently had been Avell maintained. There was conflicting evidence Avhether the pilot’s belt had been undone or Avas fastened. The engine was free of Avreckage and the crankshaft could be turned over by hand. There Avas nothing to indicate engine failure, which was not necessarily the cause of an accident, though a contributing factor. The machine had been in good condition, as the records indicated. He considered that a fair test had been given of the machine before leaA’ing the aerodrome on the morning of the fatality and it Avas in a fit condition to undertake the flight-. Squadron Leader Isitt concluded that aIT that could be said Avas that the machine must have been out of control Avhen it struck the ground. There Avere three possible causes of this ; (1) the pilot’s error of judgment, (2) structural failure or jambing of the controls, and (3) the incapacity of the pilot through fainting. The coroner returned a Amrdict that the cause -of death was due to injuries according to the medical evidence, but there was insufficient evidence to determine the cause of the accident.