SENSATIONAL MISHAP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17381, 30 January 1920, Page 4

SENSATIONAL MISHAP.

ACCIDENT TO AN' AIRBOAT. • ' '. MAST ,OF YACHT, ( STRUCK.;] (Mini SLIGHTLY' DAMAGED.

ii One ..of && Kohimararaa airboat* met with, a somewhat .sensational misbap in Stanley Bay, yesterday, one of the wings striking the mast of an anchored yacht. The machine fell into the water, fortunately on the floats. : No one was injured, although the party in the yacht, which included women, received a fright. The machine was started some distance above the flagship, the breeze being almost behind her. She did'not rise readily, and the pil'Jt 'swerved to the left into Stanley Bay, find headed into the wind to aid him to rise, the airboat bumping »for some, distance. When ; heading almost, at right angles to the Stanley Bay wharf from the Devonpbrt sido she rose, but did not gain altitude very quickly, and those on the flagship for a moment feared that she might strike the shed on the end of the wharf. However, the plane made a sudden upward movement, and crossed well clear of' the wharf. Suddenly she lost altitude, and the left wing struck the mast, which had not been visible from the flagship, and immediately she fell into the water, the disabled wing striking first. She righted -herself, and the pilot, Mr. R. Going, and the passenger, Mr. R. A. Dexter, v were none the worse for ( the mishap. The mast o: ! the yacht, which is one .of the Sulphur Bay fleet, was snapped off and part of the deck stripped. The Flying School authorities state that .the cause of the airboat suddenly descending was due to a down-draught which was met after the wharf was crossed. It is the first mishap of the kind to occur in Auckland. The.airmen had desired to start the race in tho air owing to this large number of small craft on the water crowding the fairway necessary to gain a good rise. The regatta committee, 1 however, had been anxious to have the race started from the water, and their wishes had been agreed to. . , ~. , , The only damage -sustained by the airboat was to the wing, but. its extent has not yet been assessed. It was possible to tow the disabled craft to Kohimarema.