AIR INQUIRY

Hokitika Guardian, 22 September 1937, Page 2

AIR INQUIRY

LOSS OF PLANE IN COOK STRAIT (Pei Press Association —Copyright}. WELLINGTON, September 21. The disappearance over Cook Strait on March 23, of a de Haviland Moth plane, belonging to the Western Federated Aero Club when returning •from a pageant at Hokitika, was the subject of an inquiry to-day. The machine was piloted by Arthur Smith, of PungnrehUj near Opunake, and J. Hamill, of Pungarehu, was a passenger. Several small pieces of wreckage were subsequently recovered on the coast north of Makara, but no trace of the bodies was found. The Inquiry Board comprised Mr Stillwell, S.M., Flight Lieut. Burrell, and Flying Officer Orchard. I)r N. A. Foden conducted the inquiry on behalf of the Air Department.

Cyril Henry Plumtree, pilot of the machine which Smith was following, gave evidence of not receiving any warning of clouds in the vicinity of Terawhiti when leaving Nelson. They climbed to 5000 feet, and retained that height, a safe gliding distance, across Cook Strait, He then saw a layer of clouds. When he reached them, the ceiling was 1,500 feet. He found he had to go down to preserve visibility. Smith’s plane was then on his right, and they could see the coastline. It was his intention to follow the coastline to Wanganui. He could not see how far the cloud extended, but he assumed that bp would come through into clear skies. He found that, to get under the clouds, he had to come within forty feet of the water. The cloud, at that stage was a black wall. He found that the visibility was nil, and lie made a left hand turn. The water was very hard to distinguish from the. mist. When he last saw the other plane, he was at a 200 feet altitude. The other plane was then maintaining its position, and if Smith maintained that angle, and did not turn when witness did, he would hit the water. Then witness turned. He thought Smith was still following. and lie hoped Smith would see him turn at the critical period. Tin* coastline was visible, about 50 or 75 yards away. After turning, witness made altitude, and climbed out of a wedge formation of cloud into clear afr. Tie circled round for about ten minutes, thinking there was a possibility of trouble. He headed for Rongo?nl.

Plumtree said he had had definite instructions regarding clouds, eftfiei to go round them or go back;.to go under them, if having enough altitude; or climb above them. He decided to go under the clouds to see if there was enough ceiling. Witj ness was aware of the responsibility lof having another 'pilot following him]‘"Tn’the case of two aeroplanes travelling together, the preservation of mutual visibility was essential. He still thought his decision was quite justifiable. It Was perhaps not in ac-. eordauce with Hying practice to go as low' as he did. Gerald Lomax Stedman said he was in charge of the Wellington team which went to the Hokitika Pageant. The weather had been bad for three dnvs. They got as far as Nelson on March 22. Then they decided | the conditions were not good enough *to go on. Plumtree said he would ; fly with the Wellington formation unj til over the Strait. Witness saw ‘ clouds on the way over. He thought lie would probably see Plumtree at Rongotai. The New' Plymouth machines had only two alternatives—to so under the cloud, or not go at all. The action in going under the'cloud was definitely justifiable. Apparently, Plumtree turned hack at the right time, and the other man did not. Onlv experience could enable a pilot to judge the exact time to turn back. When Phimtree arrived at Rongolai, witness went out on a search with him in a machine equipped with blind flying instruments. lan Herbert Neil Keith. Instructor to the Western Federated Club, said Plumtree was unite justified in going under the cloud. Tt was either an error of lodgment in turning hack, or the meeting of nhenomenal conditions. w'hich accounted for the accident. Smith may have decided to ao G’rough-: He was not an over confident pilot, lvif was of a goon average type. No instrue+ions had been given to Smith to follow Plumtree.

After other witnesses had given evidence, decision was reserved.