PLANE CRASHES

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 59, Issue 4254, 13 March 1950, Page 5

PLANE CRASHES

KOMATA REEFS ROAD ENGINE CUTS OUT PILOT LANDS IN BLACKBERRY Although his plane crashed as a result of the engine cutting out no injuries were received by the pilot owner, Mr R. I. Graham, and little damage was done to the plane when the machine crash-landed at Komata near Paeroa on Sunday morning last during topdressing operations. Mr Graham, who trades under the name of Airspread, was topdressing on Mr M. A. Signal’s property on the Komata Reefs road and had dropped part of his load of fertiliser when the engine suddenly cut out. He was flying at a height of 50 feet about three miles up from the Thames-Paeroa main highway in the fairly narrow gully through which the Komata stream runs and where there was no level land suitable for landing. Dropping the balance of his load Mr Graham chose the least steep slope of the hill sides and in what has been described by an experienced pilot as a wonderful effort crashed landed his plane in fern and blackberry. » Much less damage than would have been anticipated was actually done to the plane. The undercarriage which took the strain of the crash was very little damaged, as was the same with the bottom of both wings.

The plane was promptly dismantled and taken on an Airspread truck to Tauranga where’ repairs will be effected.