QUILLER KILLED

Hokitika Guardian, 4 May 1931, Page 3

QUILLER KILLED

’CHUTE FAILS TO OPEN. HIS BODY IN A PULP. (By Telcyraph—Per Press Association) OAMARU, May 3. In the full view of 1400 horrified spectators the Norwegian, parachutist, Hifakon Quiller, aged 35 years, crashed to ilb'iVth from a plane piloted by Captain White, at an altitude of 5400 feet, on Saturday afternoon. The tragedy happened during a demonstration in aid of the formation of the local Aero Club. The machine rose from a paddock near the racecourse, and it circled around five times in order to gain the necessary altitude. . Quiller jumped clear of the machine. His parachute failed to open immediately; and. consequently the crowd thought that this was part of the demonstration. t.o within two hundred feet of the ground, Quiller fought franticariy to open the parachute. Then he appear-, to lose consciousness. His impact with the ground was so tcrriffic that his body was literally smashed to pieces.

Captain White is of the opinion that the swinging of his body drew tdo cords of the parachute together, and tightened; them. The last words of the ill-fated parachutist on leaving the plane were: “l think this one will be all right!” j.ne deceased was a native of Oslo Norway. He had no relatives in Ikew Zealand.

Hie Waitaki Ambulance, which was on the scene, was summoned to the spot where the parachutist had fallen, but the hotly was found smashed up. Quiller, before ascending, explained how the parachute was operated 1 . Be , opened it on the ground. He then ■ rolled it up and adjusted the equipment ] - v-; hack. He asked the pilot of the plane, Captain White, to ascend to an "altitude of 5000 feet. White circled half a dozen times to gain the altitude desired’ and then turned to face into the wind, flying level. The parachutist was seen on a wing of the plane preparatory to making his jump and the crowd saw his leap into the air.> It-was thought that he would not open his parachute until he had dropped a' considera'hle distance, intend ing to make a short landing frogi 1000 feet. It became obvious -that he was in difficulties at about this height when he began to somersault. Lieutenant Quiller crashed to tieground in an empty paddock at a terrific velocity, and the thud of his fall

was heard all over the field. The body of flie man was unrecognisable, having been shockingly mutilated as a result

of the fall

ilie deceased made some wonderful descents in European countries. Australia and Now Zealand. He thrilled a large crowd at, the Wigram Aerodrome on April 1. when he made two descents. For the first jump he used liis own parachute, which opens automatically. In the second descent ho left the plane, at 3000 feet and did not open the parachute until lie had fallen two thirds,ol the dist nee. He landed on all fours and humped his head on the ground receiving a cut above one eye. He stated afterwards that lie had become giddy during the fall, the first time it had happened. Quiller made a descent last . .enday at Westport from a height of °OO feet. Hg intended returning to the West, Coast to make a descent at Greynmuth.

Lieutenant Quiller did a great deal of t >sting work and made many de-s----c'cMs in Germany. He was invited to visit New Zealand and was making desceiils and giving demonstrations in the n o of the parachute: in-all the ,larger towns of the Dominion.

(': ptai i T. W. White, who was flying the plane from which Lieutenant Qui'ler jumped, is an experienced airmail/ well known throughout the Dominion. For some time he was histructor to th > Hawkcs Bay Aero Club, and led a fin ■ record there. Latterly he lias been touring the South Island giving inv rides in country centres. His imi chine is a Spartan. During the earthquake he cari'i«>d mail from H.awkes Bay. He was a lieutenant in the' Territorial Air Force.