FLYING FATALITY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 6, 4 December 1937, Page 9

FLYING FATALITY

CRASH AT RONGOTAI. IN MANAWATU CLUB’S ’PLANE. PALMERSTON NORTH VICTIM. Crashing on to a mound on a fairway almost opposite the clubhouse on the Miramar golf links the Middle Districts Aero Club’s Moth aeroplane ZK-ABV was completely wrecked in a fatal accident which occurred shortly after it had taken off from the Rongotai aerodrome, "Wellington, early last evening for Palmerston North. Appearing to lose flying speed, the machine dived from a height of between 100 and 200 feet. Mr It*: Lenderyoh Elliott, of Palmerston North, a licensed pilot, was a passenger, and he was so badly injured that he died without regaining consciousness in the "Wellington Public Hospital soon after he was admitted. , The pilot, Mr W. Smillie, also of Palmerston North, escaped with slight injuries and severe shock. The latter was also admitted to hospital but is reported to be making satisfactory progress, and may return home to-morrow.

This was the first fatal crasli by a Manawatu Aero Club machine, and Mr Elliott’s death was the first among the pilots trained by, the club. Efficiency and promptness shown by the auxiliary fire brigade staff attached to the airport prevented the accident from having even worse consequences. "Within three minutes of the crash the engine was manned by the officer in charge of the airport (Mr C. \V. Roots) the chief ground engineer (Mr H. B. Roberts) and another member of the staff (Mr S. Smith). When they arrived at the wreck the. flames were beginning to spread but they were checked before any damage was done. The machine arrived from Palmerston North at 6.35 p.m. piloted by Mr Elliott. He picked up Mr Smillie, who decided to pilot the ’plane home, and the machine took off from Rongotai at 6.38 p.m. into a south-south-east-erly wind. According to witnesses of the ’plane’s departure, the machine took a left-hand turn and flew downwind for a short distance. Then it appeared to lose flying speed anu, though from the ground it could be 6een the pilot made an effort to keep control, the machine failed to respond and dived into the ground. There were several golfers on the course at the. time and they rushed to assist the pilot, who could be seen struggling to free himself. The passenger, however, was rendered unconscious by the impact, which so telescoped the fuselage of the 'plane that the rear of the front seat of the cockpit was almost pushed against the engine. Mr Elliott was taken from the machine badly hurt and just as flames began to spread from the engine, which was saturated with petrol from the punctured fuel tank. The noise of the crash, was loud enough to be heard at Kilbirnie. The undercarriage was' tom off, the central portion of the fuselage smashed and telescoped, and the wings torn from the struts. The instrument panel in each cockpit was broken to pieces, but the tail end of the ’ plane was practically intact. The wreckage was later inspected by Mr J.. M. Buckeridge, Assistant Controller of Civil Aviation,' and other officers and the machine was dismantled by carlight. The ’plane was about five years old.

VICTIM’S CAREER. Aged 24 years, the late Mr Elliott, was the only son of Mr and Mrs John Elliott, of 22 Colombo Street. He was educated at tlie Palmerston North Boys’ High School, where he had a successful scholastic and athletic career, in 1927 winning the junior mile championship, in 1928 the junior 440 yards, 880 yards and mile, and in 1920 the senior 880 yards. In 1929 he was also' captain of the school’s second Rugby fifteen and a member of the second cricket eleven.

Early in 1931 Mr Elliott was apprenticed to Mr J. K. Faton, oi Leary’s Pharmacies, Ltd., and remained in that employ until early in 1935, when he resigned to take up an appointment with Messrs Joseph Nathan and Co., Ltd., in tpe drugs department of that business. He remained with that firm until November of last year, when he took up a position as representative for a Wellington nrm, travelling through the Manawatu, Taranaki, Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa districts. A few months ago he was appointed storeman for Messrs Johnston and Co., Ltd., merchants, of Palmerston North, a position he occupied until his death. Prominent on the sports fields. Mr Elliott played senior A cricket for, the Old Boys’ Club, being regarded as a good left-hand batsman. He had played junior and senior Rugby football for- the United Club, had been a Manawatu hockey representative, a leading member and secretary of the Manawatu Tennis Club, and played golf for the Palmerston North Club. At the latter sport this season he won the Goldfinch and Cousins Cup. He received his flying tuition with the Middle Districts club and had about 90 hours of flying to his credit. He was a pilot in the Civil Reserve and recently obtained liis A license. Mr Smillie is one of three sons of Mr and Mrs D. F. Srwllie. well-known residents of Palmerston North, tie is about 20 years of age and obtained his A license with the Middle Districts club. He is at present training for his B license. To his credit stand between 80 and 100 flving hours, as well, as a good deal of cross-country experience. He is a Civil Reserve pilot. His two other brothers are also members of the aero club, and Mr Smillie, senr, is a life member of the club. Tie was president of Milson Aerodrome fine.) before it wa= taken over by the Palmerston North City Council.

CRASHES AT RONGOTAJ. FORMER ACCIDENTS. The machine which crashed yesterday is a Moth aeroplane with a Gipsy 111 inverted engine. The machine is a wooden model, and had a fine climbing performance. About two years aeo the machine was practically wrecked in a crash at Mangaweka, when the pilotinstructor was attempting to land in a paddock and ran into some wires on the boundary. The machine was completely rebuilt with new fuselage and wings about 18 months ago. Yesterday’s crash is at least the fourth that has occurred at Rongotai with- light ’planes as- used by aero clubs. Flying-Officer Willis, of Blenheim, was takin" off one ev"P’ r ’" "" a passenger for Blenheim when lie ran into a down draught and the machine was wrecked. Both the occupants escaped with slight injuries. Squadron-Leader M. C. McGregor lost his life in a Miles Falcon machine on the same aerodrome through hitting the anemometer mast in thick Another Blenheim ’plane, piloted I>V a doctor, crashed on the golf links one Sunday morning, and yesterday s

crash is the fourth, making the loss of life two pilots to date. The Wellington City Council have for some time had a gang of men encaged in cutting off the top of Mon Point to improve the flying conditions for machines landing and taking off in certain winds, and also to • lessen the down draughts. ,