AEROPLANE CRASH.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 112, 11 April 1929, Page 6

AEROPLANE CRASH.

PILOT’S NARROW ESCAPE. FORMER PALMERSTON NORTH RESIDENT. (From Our Own. Correspondent). FOXTON, April 11. An ex-Palmerston North resident in the person of Mr John Dooley, aged 27, - a school teacher, who is now living at Arncliffe, Sydney, narrowly escaped meeting his death when the aeroplane lie was piloting crashed into the sea at Cronulla last Sunday week. Mr Dooley was flying a de Havilland ’plana belonging to the Aero Club and left Mascot at 11 a.m., when he went qver the George River at an altitude of 3000 feet, but dropped to 2000 feet over Cronulla. The machine appeared to be going quite well until over the beach when it suddendly went into a tail spin aud commenced to fall rapidly. Momentarily the ’plane appeared to straighten out and then it dived into the sea about 500 yards from shore. Fortunately both the North and South Cronulla life saving teams were engaged in competitions at the time, and- a. boat was quickly sent out. When the rescuers reached the plane, which was still floating, Mr Dooley was floundering in the water and was on the point of, going down, his heavy flying gear hampering his movements. He was hauled ashore and received medical attention, while a life line was taken out and made fast to the sinking aeroplane which was hauled ashore in a badly damaged condition.

It was found that Mr Dooley had received dislocation of the left shoulder, abrasions to the left arm and severe shock. Mr Dooley was. well-known in Palmerston North, having been a teacher at one of the local schools for a considerable time about two years ago, after which he removed to Sydney where his home is.