FURTHER FLIGHTS MADE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19280, 19 March 1926, Page 10

FURTHER FLIGHTS MADE

RULE OF THE AIR FORCE. ALL THE PILOTS SENT UP. THE PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECT. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] CHBISTCHURCH, Thursday.

It was essential that all the pilots at the Sockburn should make a flight this morning, even though two men were killed when •an aeroplane crashed yesterday. There was considerable comment in the city regarding the action ot the pilots, but Captain L. M. Isitt explained that it is an unwritten law that if a crash occurs all pilots from the aerodrome concerned must go up again as soon as possible afterwards. This law prevails in England and at all flying schools.

The " refresher " course finished to-day and Captain Isitt said it was absolutely essential that all the pilots should make a flight, otherwise they would not have been able to do so for another 12 months. By that time, unless they made a flight, the psychological effect on the pilots might have made them nervous.

As Captain Isitt explained: " If anyone is killed in a tram or train smash all the trams and trains do not stop running. Naturally the men did not want to fly for the sake of flying. It was essential that they should do so." The Sun to-night says: "One of the best records of aviation in the. world was marred in Christ-church last evening by a crash in which two aviators were killed and a third injured. Since the Defence Department assumed control of the aerodrome at Sockburn three and a-lialf years ago not one serious accident, if we except the present fatality, has occurred. Ihis is a remarkable record. In the period mentioned 180 pilots have undergone ' refresher ' courses. Statistics offer striking proof that there is no occasion for anxiety as t-o the future of aviation in the province." AFTER THE ACCIDENT. HELP SOON AT HAND. TERRIBLE SPECTACLE SEEN. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] CHRISTCHURCH. Thursday. Captain L. M. Isitt, officer in charge of the aerodrome, stated to-day that the machine was in perfect order when it left the grounds at 5.20 o'clock. He himself had made a flight in it at four o'clock. Captain Horrell left the aerodrome yesterday morning to attend the funeral of an uncle at Woodend. He had tea with his family in at 3.45 o'clock before returning to duty, not two hours before he was killed. The aeroplane's flight had attracted an unusual amount of attention and it seems to be well-established that it was flying at a very low altitude. Hundreds of people were watching and admiring the skill of the pilot who was flying the machine. They applauded his "stunting" with little expectation that a tragedy was to be enacted almost before their eyes.

Before long the watchers knew that a crash was coming. Hie roar of the engine came again, then a sudden silence, and at last the grinding crash.

The terrific impact was heard a mile away. It was obvions to all the watchers even at a distance that a disaster had occurred, and it was realised that casualties must have been sustained. There was an excited rush along the Harewood Road to the scene of the accident.. The grounds of the Orphanage were invaded by hundreds of people, ail anxious to render assistance if they could. A terrible spectacle was revealed. The aeroplane, with its propeller buried deep into the ground, had been smashed to matchwood. Eager hands lifted the two passengers, one unconscious, out of the cockpit. The pilot was wedged between the twisted iron framework and the under carriage, which was pushed up through the floor of the machine. About Lalf-a-dozen men tore away the sides of the machine, but it was some minutes before they could extract the unfortunate officer He was dead and had apparently been killed instantaneously. His body was removed to a resting place under some trees. THE INJURED OFFICER. CONDITION IMPROVED. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CO RESPONDENT.] CHRISTCHUBCH, Thursday. The injuries sustained by Lieutenant Turner, of Coldstream, Ashburton, in the aeroplane crash were a fractured left arm and severe injuries to the face and head. His condition is not serious to-day, although his injuries are severe. He is 29 years of age. Lieutenant Turner saw considerable service in France, where he was acting as an observer with the Royal Air Force. Since he returned to New Zealand he has taken an active interest in flying.