FLYING TRAGEDIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20468, 21 January 1930, Page 9

FLYING TRAGEDIES.

AEROPLANE IN-FLAMES

FOURTEEN PEOPLE KILLED

'ACCIDENT IN CALIFORNIA

RACE SPECIAL WRECKED.

EXPLOSION BEFORE FIRE.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright, (Received Jtwuary 20, 5.55 p.m.)

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 19. A shocking flying tragedy is reported from San Diego, California. Fourteen persons were killed when an aeroplane en route from Aguas Calientes, Mexico, crashed in flames. There was not one survivor.

The scene of the crash was 10 miles pouth of Ocean Side, between Los Angeles and San Diego. An eyewitness says the motor oF the machine was . " missing" and the .pilot made a desperate effort to reach the seashore. Everyone knew something was wrong when the groat aeroplane, heavily laden, went careering along only 260 ft. above the ground, wobbling like a wounded bird.

The pilot, however, could not quite make the beach. There was a crash and a spray of earth-flow as if a giant plough was tearing up the countryside.

A second later there was an explosion and the wreckage burst, into flames, causing the worst single disaster in the history of American flying. The aeroplane was a tri-motored Fokker, known as a race special. It had left the racecourse at Aguas Calientes at 5.30 p.m., after the last race. *

FLORIDA DISASTER.

JHREE LIVES FORFEITED.

MACHINE OUT OF CONTROL.

TWO PASSENGERS INJURED.

(Received January 20. 11.55 p.m.)

NEW YORK, Jan. 19. Another fearful air accident occurred Hear Palm Beach, Florida. Mr. William Lindley, a wealthy amateur flier, and two mechanics were killed ;when a new seaplane fell into Lake Worth. One wing folded back and put the machine out of control. The engine was still roaring when the aeroplane struck the water. Two passengers were seriously injured.

FATAL CRASH IN ITALY.

RACING PILOT'S END.

MACHINE FALLS INTO LAKE.

FLYING AT GREAT SPEED.

(Received January 20, 5.55 p.m.) ROME, Jan. 19. Warrant-Officer Tomaso Dal * Molin, aged 27, who was second in the last Schneider Cup race, was killed to-day when making a trial flight near the Desen—zano aerodrome.

The airman was engaged in testing a new machine 'in which he had hoped to beat' the British Schneider Cup record of 328.63 miles an hour. The machine had attained enormous speed, but in turning it side-slipped and nose-dived into the Lake of Garda.

The tragedy recalls the death of Captain Giuseppe Motta in August at the same spot. / -

Warrant-Officer Dal Molin attained a speed of 284.2 miles an hour in the last race for the Schneider Cup over the Solent on September 7. He flew in a Manchi seaplane.

Captain Motta was killed at Desenzano on August 24. He was piloting an 1800 horse-power seaplane Manchi 67, reputed to have been Italy's fastest machine, when it crashed and was totally wrecked. Captain Motta was flying at a speed of 354 miles an hour when he crashed. The machine dived from a height of 300 ft. and struck the lake-with terrific force. Motorboats were rushed to the scene, but there was no trace of the pilot.