Grabbed ’Plane Control in Mid-air

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 182, 3 August 1937, Page 8

Grabbed ’Plane Control in Mid-air

AS PILOT FELL OUT TO HIS DEATH How a ’plane passenger, with a pilot’s certificate, took control of a ’plane in mid-air landed it and found the pilot missing was described at a Romford (Essex) inquest. A verdict of accidental death was returned on Douglas Charles Gee, aged 25, of Parkholme road, Dalston, who fell from an aeroplane near Harold Wood Station. Gee was flying the machine, which had a dual-control, and Claude Alfred Oscroft, of Lydford road, Westcliff, who has a pilot’s certificate, was the passenger. They were flying from Maylands Aerodrome to Southend. Oscroft taxied out into tho wind, then Geo took over. Oscroft told the coroner: “We climbed to 2,500 feet, and Gee said, ‘Do you mind if 1 go into a spin?’ “I said, ‘O.K.,’ ” and prepared myself for it. We went down into a righthand spin and made a perfect turn. We made about four turns. Afterwards J was suddenly thrown from my seat, and had it not been for the belt I should have been shot clean out. “The machine went on its back, my feet were thrown up and one foot came out. I was clawing and clutching, but I managed to hold on and pulled the stick back. I was shot head first into the cockpit, and was yelling, “What the hell do you think you are doing?’ “Holding the stick, I managed to get control. “I looked round and could not see Gee. I thought he had fallen forward on to the control. “I made straight for the aerodrome and then found that Gee was missing.” Oscroft added that he thought that if Gee had done his safety-belt up he would not have fallen out. It was stated that the safety straps were in order and that the regulations regarding the machanic had been carried out. The jury expressed the opinion that Gee’s strap was not properly fastened.