Slight Mishap to Lockheed

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 172, 24 July 1939, Page 6

Slight Mishap to Lockheed

Strikes Fence at New Plymouth NO ONE INJURED; LITTLE DAMAGE DONE Per Press Association. NEW PLYMOUTH, July 23. Landing at the New Plymouth aerodrome iu a slight cross-wind and skidding on the wet surface, the southbound Union Airways ’plane at 9 a.tu. to day failed to stop before it struck a boundary fence along which it ran for about 100 feet before slewing round again to como to rest with its nose on the main highway res» /e though clear of the None of the crew of two or the three passengers was injured. A relief ’plane was run from Auckland, taking the pussengers and mails on to Wellington. The undercarriage and propeller of the ’plane appeared to be fairly extensively damaged, but after Union Airways engineers had made an inspection it was announced that it would be flown to Palmerston North for ovcrha’.l in a few days. The pilot was Commander C. A* AlcDonald, who had with him as copilot Mr. T. R. Pike. Immediately the news of the mishap was received at Wellington, the manager of Union Airways (Mr. F. AL. Clarke), whose wife was among the passengers, set off for New Plymouth. He travelled by air service to Palmerston North and there joined one of Ih© company’s de Havilland 86’s in which the service manager (Commander A. G. Gerraud), the chief engineer (Mr. L. Maugham) nnd members of the engineering staff flew to New Plymouth. An inspection of the damaged Lockheed was made and the party returned to Palmerston North later in the afternoon accompanied by the pilot and copilot. Air. Alangham will return with the members of the engineering staff to-morrow to supervise personally tho repairing of the ’plane. Because the ’plane was projecting ou to the road, a temporary fence was run round and lights were left burning to-night to warn traffic. To prevent damage being done to the liner, a police guard was mounted and for the night watch the police were relieved by two civil reserve trainees. The following statement was issued to the press by tho manager of tlio company: ‘‘When the 8 a.m. AucklandWellington Lockheed arrived at Ncvr Plymouth on schedule this morning the machine, after landing, skidded on the wet surface of the aerodrome and ran into a fence, causing minor damage to the aircraft. It was raining at tho time and visibility on the aerodrome was only fair. There were three passengers: one for New Plymouth and two for Wellington. The passengers were not aware that anything untoward had happened as no bump was experienced in tho cabin when tho machine hit the fence. “It is expected that within two or three days the machine will be flown back to Palmerston North, where it will be thoroughly overhauled before being placed in the service again. Tho main damago is to the undercarriage and the propellers, but they can bo repaired. “A relief ’plane was dispatched from Auckland at 10.55 a.m., arriving at New Plymouth at 11.54 and leaving with both the Wellington passengers at 12.2 p.m. It arrived at Palmerston North at 12.45 and left with flve passengers at 12.55. arriving at Wellington at 1.40 p.m. ATI services will be run as usual.”