AEROPLANE CRASHES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18296, 12 January 1923, Page 5

AEROPLANE CRASHES.

PILOT'S TOE BROKEN. An aeroplane containing a pilot and one passenger crashed and was completely wrecked at the rear of the Cronulla Hot-el in Sydney recently. The pilot, Mr. Barkell, broke a toe, but the passenger was unhurt. The 'machine, which belongs to the Australian Aircraft and Engineering Company, Limiited, had been making several flights'during the early morning. The engine appeared to be—running well Shortly before 9 a.m. Mr. Barkell and his passenger took off from the beach, directly in front of the Cronulla Hotel, and headed inland. The machine had not gone more than a couple of hundred yards, when, according to onlookers, the engine began to fail. '. In vain the pilot tried to bring his 'plane up. She dropped steadily, and finally, with a terrific crash, struck the fence of one off three new cottages at, the rear of, the hotel. The noise could be heard all over Cronulla, and within a few minutes a big; crowd'had collected. For a few seconds it was rumoured that both pilot and passenger had been killed, but they emerged from the debris of the wrecked 'plane. Mr. Barkell was limping badly owing to his broken toe. ; and his passenger had sustained a few scratches, but otherwise they were uninjured. . r.-- . ■■' The damage- to the 'plane is irreparable, and it now lies stacked, a formless mass -of splintered wood and torn canvas, at the back of the hotel.