AERIAL TRAGEDY

Northern Advocate, 21 January 1935, Page 8

AERIAL TRAGEDY

PLANE DOWN IN SEA PILOT DROWNED. COMPANION SWIMS ASHORE. C Per Press Association. — Copyright.} CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. An aeroplane which was returning from Wellington to Christchurch on Saturday afternoon came down in the sea near Waipara. The pilot, Mr N. Roake, was drowned.

Mr Cecil Haigh, a passenger, swam ashore unhurt.

Both men were employees of Christchurch Cinemas, Ltd. Mr Roake was manager of the Regent Theatre, and Mr Haigh is manager of the Majestic Theatre. Mr Roake leaves a widow and one child. The weather was very thick and foggy, and visibility was poor. Mr Roake was flying close to the ground in an endeavour to keep the coastline in view. When the aeroplane was about seven miles north of the Waipara River, the pilot suddenly caught sight of a cliff immediately in front. He swerved 'violently to the left, and a wing touched the water. The machine overturned and plunged nose-first into the sea.

Messrs Roake and Haigh were both strapped in their seats, and both v/ere under the surface of the water. They managed to struggle out of the cockpit and fight their way to the surface. Both floundered in the water severely handicapped by heavy and baggy flying costumes, but each man found temporary relief from the detached wheels of their machine. Rescue Effort In Vain.

Mr Haigh continued to float with the aid of his wheel, but Mr Roake decided to make for the shore. He swam about 100 yards. He was then visibly exhausted, and reached a rock to which he clung until he was dashed off by the seas. He must then have struck his head on the rocks, for he disappeared.

Eventually Mr Haigh reached him and succeeded in dragging him to the beach, but it was too late to save his life, Mr Haigh set off for assistance, and walked for five miles over very rough and barren country before he reached the house of Mr William Macintosh, eight miles from Waipara township. Mr Haigh insisted on returning with the search party as soon as he arrived, but the searchers could find no trace of Mr Roake until yesterday morning.' The body was brought in by packhorse in the afternoon. The aeroplane, a Moth machine, owned by the Canterbury Aero Club, is completely wrecked, and its position is so remote and inaccessible that no salvage will be possible. The tail projects a few feet above the water at low tide.