JUMP TO DEATH

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 30 March 1936, Page 5

JUMP TO DEATH

PARACHUTE FATALITY AT AIR PAGEANT “SCOTTY” FRASER DROPS 1593 FT INTO SEA (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, This Day. Before the eyes of thousands, Mr J. S. (“Scotty”) Eraser, New Zealand’s foremost parachutist, fell 1500 feet to 1 his death in the waters of Lyall Bay at the McGregor appeal air pageant on Saturday afternoon. He was unable to open his parachute. It is believed that a pin used in packing was not taken out before he jumped. The jump was to have been the first of two which he had volunteered to make at the pageant. Earlier in the afternoon he had packed his parachute in the clubhouse before a group of onlookers, and, about 10 minutes to 3 o’clock he went out to the W ellington Aero Club’s Moth Major ZK-ADP and, after a few words to the pilot, Mr K. G. Smith, tossed away his cigarette and climbed into the front cockpit. The pilot climbed to 1500 feet, and over the bay so that the wind, a light south-westerly, would drift him inward on to the aerodrome. Then the parachutist climbed out on to the footway of the machine and, after signalling to the pilot, jumped off. The spectators watched the figure detach itself from the machine and waited for the great white umbrella to open. There was no alarm as he fell clear and dropped, because there is always an interval before the parachutist pulls the lipcord which opens the parachute. Nor was there any undue anxiety in the following few seconds, for, although the height was below that from which delayed drops are usually made, there was no immediate danger. Only when he was within 700 feet from the water did the crowd realise that it was witnessing a tragedy. Silently they watched the 'white figure, revolving slowly, and in the twinkling of an eye disappear sending up a cloud of water about 30 feet high. From the air the pilot watched the descent, waiting in vain to see the parachute open. The announcer at the loud-speaker was tactful, hut there was a world of meaning in his words, “The jump was not so successful.”

CROWD STUNNED WITH HORROR The crowd seemed stunned with horror. Then there was a wild race of spectators toward the seashore. Swimmers at Lyall Bay saw the tragedy, and immediately ran along the beach. They dashed in with others from among the crowd who had hastily discarded part of their clothing and swam out about 200 or 300. yards to where the parachute, still attached to the body, but burst open by the impact, floated like a buoy. air W. Moulton, engineer, 62 Austin street, was the first to reach the spot, and the rescuers, who were hampered by the heavy surf running at the time, had to disengage the parachute and then bring die body ashore, where it was placed in a van rushed from the aerodrome. Doctors said that death had been instantaneous. Mr Fraser had been badly battered about the head and face by the impact. It is believed that the temporary fastening pin which is used to hold the folds together when the parachute lias been packed and while the flaps of the canvas cover are being drawn over it, was not removed, as is necessary, and that consequently it was impossible for the parachute to open when the ripcord was pulled. The parachute was Mr Fraser’s own, and was of the best type manufactured, being valued at about £9O. It replaced an earlier parachute of the same make which the parachutist had used and had been tom by bushes in various landings and patched, but he had made several jumps with the new pack. Mr Fraser held a parachute-packer’s license and had been making public exhibitions of his art for several years. He had made over 100 jumps. After its recovery the parachute was taken in charge and locked away for expert examination prior to the inquiry and inquest which are to follow. In accordance with tradition, established over many years by the Royal Air Force, the pageant was continued after'the tragedy. Mr Moulton had to .receive medical attention following his exertions, and was removed to his home by the Free Ambulance. SERVICE IN GREAT WAR Mr Fraser was a married man, 42 years of age, but it is understood there was no family. Born in Scotland, he served in the Great War with a Scottish unit and then .transferred to the Royal Air Force, being sent as a flight cadet to Ismailia, Egypt, where he remained until the armistice. He came to New Zealand after the war and for a time was coal-mining on the West Coast. When the New Zealand Air Force was established as a territorial unit in 1923, lie was given a commission in it as a second-lieutenant, or pilot officer. He resigned about 1929 or J. 930. Mr Fraser resided at Levm, where he was employed as a salesman. About three years ago he made, two jumps at the Rongotai Aerodrome, one from 15C0 ,feet and one from 3000 feet, from a machine piloted by SquadronLeader T. W. White.