Plane Found Mt. Ruapehu

Northern Advocate, 29 October 1948, Page 5

Plane Found Mt. Ruapehu

Below Summit;

WELLINGTON, Fri. (P.A.). —The missing Lockheed Electra airliner Kaka has been sighted 700 feet below the summit of Mt Ruapehu.

This was announced in the House of Representatives this morning by the acting Prime Minister (Mr Nash). The plane, carrying 11 passengers and two crew, has been missing since Saturday on a flight between Palmerston North and Hamilton.

Immediately after the report was received that the plane had been found police and search parties left for the area.

The wreckage was first sighted at 8.40 this morning by a RNZAF Dakota.

An Auster plane was immediately dispatched from Karoi and confirmed the presence of wreckage 700 ft from the summit of the mountain on the west side.

At 10.24 the Ohakune and Wellington police were advised. The pilot of the Auster reported that the plane was completely wrecked, the only recognisable part being the twin tail.

There was no sign of fire. An aircraft with medical supplies and comforts has been dispatched from Ohakea in case they are needed. The Auster pilot stated that the wrecked plane was lying in Planes will drop food at fixed points on the 14-mile route to the summit of Ruapehu to enable the climbers to travel light. The climb is through dense bush and heavy snow.

The ground parties are engaged in a grim race against rough weather, which is reported to be approaching 'across the Tasman Sea. A ship in the western Tasman reported incessant lightning, thunder and heavy rain. ON SCENE ABOUT 6 p.m. ?

Because of the difficult terrain and snow the main search parties will not reach the plane until after 8. a.m. tomorrow.

However, one party is expected to reach the scene of the crash about 6 p.m. tonight. It had originally been decided to send this expedition from the' Chateau because approach to the point of the crash on the western face of the mountain from Ohakune is too difficult for untrained men to attempt in soft snow.

Later, it was reported that the party had changed its plans and would begin operations from Horopito. The Post and Telegraph Department has arranged for a truck to leave Wellington this afternoon to take portable teleprinter equipment and mechanics from Wellington and a specialist operator from Wanganui to Ohakune to deal with telegraph messages concerning the rescue operations. SUPPLIES DROPPED In the meantime, supplies and comforts will be dropped near the spot, in the frail hope there might be some survivors.

The weather around the mountain today is fine.

Constables R. D. Gardiner and W. G. Adsett, of Ohakune, have arranged to put 60 men into the field, probably New Zealand’s biggest mountain-em-ergency expedition. The men were mobilised from Waiouru Military Camp, the Public Works and Forestry Services, and from among experienced men living in the district. The party also includes police from Taihape, Taumarunui, Wanganui and Palmerston North. SNOW FALL YESTERDAY Wireless equipment has been supplied by the Naval Radio Training School at Waiouru. The party will take stretchers and also probably carry walkie-talkie radio sets. Eighteen inches of snow fell at Ruapehu on Saturday evening, and the snow, which is well down to the bushline, will increase the difficulties of the search party. IN STEEP RAVINE First hanej. news of the discovery of the wrecked'Kaka was conveyed this morning by an eye-witness who 'stated that the Lockheed Electra was clearly visible in the middle of a steep ravine about 700 ft below the summit of the mountain.

It was thought that during the past few days heavy snowfalls had covered the debris from previous searchers. Weather conditions today were such as to have brought about a considerable thaw and it is believed that it is to that fact that this morning’s discovery was wholly due. A pilot from Ohakea who flew over the scene of the disaster this morning said that the aircraft appeared to have come to rest against the side of a bluff and was not easy to see from the air. NO SIGNS OF LIFE

In striking the side of the mountain it appeared to have hit an outcrop in the ravine. The tail part of the rear fuselage and portion of the wing were at the bottom of the ravine and other fragments could be seen higher up the slope. From the position of the wreckage the pilot judged that the aircraft had been flying in a northerly direction. It is considered that during the past few days the wreckage was covered by snow, but when the snow melted today it was possible to make out portions of the plane from the air. No sign of life was apparent. Flying conditions today were stated to be ideal. SURVIVORS UNLIKELY

The location given by spotting planes is on a ridge between the Wanganui, Ao Te Ao, and Maungaturutu streams, between Lake Surprise and the summit.

Wing Commander Kean, chief investigator of air accidents, flew over the scene late this morning and located the scene on maps for the ground parties. Apart from the condition of the wreckage, it is thought, because of the height, that there is no possibility of •survivors.

The plane must have struck the mountain on Saturday shortly after it was heard over Rangataua. near Ohakune, by Messrs McGrath, Fitzgerald and Reynolds, railway surfacemen.

FIRE BRIGADE.— No indication has yet been received by the superintendent of the Whangarei Fire Brigade (Mr S. V. Fuljames) which would indicate the immediate resignations of the Hamilton volunteer brigadesmen. Since a ballot was taken a year ago, no pressure has been brought to bear on the 25 Whangarei volunteers. Mr Fulljames could not give an opinion as to how the walk-out would affect the Hamilton Brigade.