CRASH OF AIRLINER

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 26 October 1938, Page 5

CRASH OF AIRLINER

HITS MOUNTAIN NEAR MELBOURNE LOST IN FOG AND MIST PROMINENT PEOPLE AMONG VICTIMS lU.P.A.-Bv Electric Telegraph—Copyright l MELBOURNE, 25th October. An Australian National Airways Douglas monoplane. Kyeema, crashed into Mount Dandenong, 28 miles from Melbourne, this afternoon. All the 18 persons aboard were killed. The air-liner was nearing the completion of its morning flight from Adelaide when, apparently lost in fog and mist, it hit Mount Dandenong about 100 feet from the summit, ploughed a deep path among the ; trees, and then dropped almost to: the base of the mountain in flames. Four passengers were thrown out, | terribly injured but identifiable. The remainder were trapped in the cabin j and burned beyond recognition. The crash occurred about 1.45 p.m., I 200 yards from the residence of Mr Eric Singleton, who heard the airliner overhead, but it was totally ob- i scured by mist and fog. Almost immediately afterward Mr Singleton heard the noise of a crash and an explosion. He and his wife ran to the scene, where a heartrending sight confronted them. Another resident, Mr Reginald Lyons, was soon on the spot, but they were unable to render the slightest aid to the occupants of the burning plane, while the four passengers who had been hurled from it were obviously dead, judging by their shocking injuries. Mr Lyons summoned police, doctors, and ambulance?. LIST OF THE VICTIMS

Three women, including an air hostess and a boy, were among the victims, also the members of the National Insurance Commission returning from Western Australia, where they had been inquiring into medical fees, applicable to the health insurance plan. Another victim was the former Federal Minister of Commerce, Mr C. Hawker, of South Australia. The official list of the 18 dead is as follows: —Mr T. M. Hardy, Mr Hugo Grant, Mr Sidney Hill Smith, Mr C. A. Hawker, Mr G. Ling, Mr H. Gloe and his wife, Mr Vaughan Tate, j Mrs E. Schraeder, a boy named Phillip i Pring, of Newcastle, the pilot, Captain j A. Webb, the first officer, Mr A. Steen,! and the air hostess, Miss Elva Jones. The Royal Commission members were: Messrs J. J. Massie, L. W. Shirley, G. H. Goddard, L. S. Abrahams, K.C., and A. C. Gain. The two latter, Mr Abrahams and Mr Gain, were among the leaders of the New South Wales Bar and were associated with protracted court proceedings here and in London which determined the legality of broadcasting racing. Mr Hardy, Mr Grant and Mr Smith were en route for Canberra to take part in the wine industry conference Mr Tate and Mrs Schraeder were passengers from Adelaide. £30.000 AIRLINER Kyeema, which cost £30,000, was licensed to carry 15 passengers. It was to have been transferred to the Brisbane-Townsville air service shortly, and the new Douglas DC2, at present being assembled, was to have replaced her on the Adelaide-Melbourne-Sydney run.

The pilot, Captain Webb, aged 31, was in the Australian Air Force for nine years, and had been three years with Australian National Airways. The First Officer, Mr Steen, was formerly instructor at the aero club at Essendon. Miss Elva Jones, the air hostess, aged 25, lived at Toorak. The news of the accident caused a painful sensation in legal and political circles in the eastern States. The Prime Minister, Mr Lyons, informing the House of Representatives at Canberra to-day of the tragic news, announced the adjournment of Parliament until next Wednesday. He said that Mr Hawker would be accorded a State funeral.

Mr J. M. Cakebread, of Mount Dandenong Observatory, states that he heard the airliner Kyeema gliding with engines stopped on top of the mountain in a cloudbank. The pilot apparently was looking for a landing place or seeking his bearings. Mr Cakebread heard the crash. He was among the first to arrive at the blazing machine and was convinced that all the 18 passengers were killed instantly. Those referred to as members of the Royal Commission were actually legal members representing the British Medical Association before the commission which visited Adelaide and Perth. Another legal delegate, Mr J. G. Hunter, travelled by train to Melbourne instead of by the ill-fated monoplane, and was thus fortunate to escape. Mr D. Hawker had intended to go to Canberra this afternoon in the private plane of the Federal member for Fairplane of the Federal member for Fairbairn.