Air Liner Damaged On Slippery ’Drome

Northern Advocate, 24 July 1939, Page 3

Air Liner Damaged On Slippery ’Drome

[Per Press Association. Copyright.] NEW PLYMOUTH. This Day. Landing at New Plymouth aerodrome yesterday, the south-bound Union Airways’ Lockheed-Electra Kahu failed to stop before it struck the boundary fence, along which it ran for about 100 feet before slewing round again, to come to rest with its nose on the highway reserve. The pilot and co-pilot and the three passengers were not injured. The machine skidded on the- wet surface of the aerodrome, and could not be stopped before it struck the fence. A relief machine was run from Auckland, taking passengers and mail on to Wellington. Propellers Damaged. The under-carriage and propellers were damaged, but after the Union Airways’ engineers had made an inspection it was announced that the machine would be flown to Palmerston North for overhaul in a few days. The pilot was Commander C. A. MacDonald, who had with him as copilot Mr T. R. Pike. The manager of Union Airways, Mr F. M. Clarke, whose wife was among the passengers, left for New Plymouth immediately on receipt of the news of the mishap. An inspection was made of the damaged ’plane, and the party returned later in the afternoon, together with the service manager, Commander A. G. Gerrand, the chief engineer, Mr L. Mangham, and members of the engineering staff.