AVIATION

Hokitika Guardian, 3 May 1937, Page 5

AVIATION

FORCED LANDING.

MACHINE SLIGHTLY DAMAGED

(Per Pr.ess Association—Copyright)]

BLENHEIM, May 1

Soo* after taking off from the Blenheim aerodrome on a flight to Masterton yesterday afternoon, Mr K. Johnston, pilot instructor to the Wairarapa Aero Club, made a forced landing at Ocean Bay, in Port Underwood. The engine of his machine, an Avro Avian ZK—ADQ, cut out because of magneto trouble.

The pilot had to make a hurried selection of a landing ground in hilly country, and succeeded in making an excellent landing on a rough, sloping paddock without injury to himself and only slight damage to the machine. Mr Johnston was making a return flight to Masterton from Christchurch, where he had been attending a blind flying course, and called at the Bleu lieitn aerodrome at 3.‘JO p.m., taking off 15 minutes later. He followed tin usual course of going some miles up the coast before turning to tty over the sea, and was just preparing to gain height for this stage of the journey when the engine cut out. With the machine losing height rapidly, he had to make the best landing he could under the conditions, and the most likely looking ground from the air appeared to bo a cleared paddock, which, on closer inspection, proved to be sloping and on difficult country. The pilot succeeded in bringing the machine down to a safe landing, however, with only slight crumpling of the

undercarriage. Mr Johnston spent the ni-'ht a' Ocean Bay, and came on to Blenheim this morning. What steps will be taken to remove the machine arc uncertain, but probably sea transport will have to he used.

Mr Johnston said that only slight repairs were accessary/ to put the machine into flving order, but it was impossible to take off from Ocean Bay. The machine is owned by Mr Johnston.