CRASH ON HILL TOP

Inangahua Times, 27 October 1932, Page 2

CRASH ON HILL TOP

JUST FAILED TO CLEAR TTTT.T. TOP (United Press Assn.) '' ~ ’ WELLINGTON, Last) Night. So far as can be ascertained the smash occurred shortly after 4 o’clock yesterday afternoon. Although a wristlet watch found on Gresaer had stopped at 3.33 o’clock, the face of the watch was smashed and possibly the watch did not stop at the time of the crash hut continued to work until it ran down. When the searchers arrived, the full extent of the mishap was tragically apparent. The aeroplane was completely wrecked, the engine being tom from the chassis and embedded in the ground. Several feet away, Gresser’s body was lying under the left wing of the aeroplane, while King’s body, which was a few yards away, was also covered with wreckage. This is the second mishap in which Gresser was concerned, the previous occasion being on the 20th March last, when an Avro aeroplane of which he was part owner, piloted hy F. McDonald, was compelled to make a forced landing at Pllmmerton, but nobody was hurt. The theory generally held by officials of the Aero Club is, that the pilot turned back from JohnsonvEle shortly after 3.30 p.m. and continued north until he estimated he was over Porirna harbour, then turned seaward, seeking clearer conditions, but having misjudged the distance, crashed into the hill top. Only another five feet would have been necessary to have cleared the hill. It is evident that the machine had flown straight into the hillside and not fallen from abSve. The two victims of the crash will be given a combined funeral on Friday afternoon.

SOUVENIR COLLECTORS WELLINGTON, Last Night. The news that an aeroplane was wrecked on the hilly country over, looking Tawa Flat spread quickly. I Besides many residents in the locality, a number of sightseers came from the City to undertake the steep! climb. Several young married couples took children as young as three and four with them. I One man. badly smitten with the madness of BOuvenir collecting, carried away sufficient trophies to stock a