AEROPLANE CRASH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20570, 22 May 1930, Page 10

AEROPLANE CRASH.

MACHINE WRECKED.

PASSENGER FATALLY HURT.

INJURIES TO THE PHOT.

SUDDEN SPIN DEVELOPED.

TE AWAMUTU ACCIDENT.

[I)Y TFiIiEGItATTT. —OWN COTtKESPONDENT. ] TE AWAMT7TT7, Wednesday.

With a noise which was heard over a mile away a Moth aeroplane crashed to the ground near the To Awamutu landing ground at the racecourse at 4.25 p.m. One of tho two occupants lost his life and the other was severely injured. Details are:—

Alfred W. Minchlm, aged 24, single, a carpenter by occupation, fractured skull; died in private hospital.

Captain A. W. Saunders, tho pilot, of Auckland, fractured pelvis, shock, severe cuts on the forehead and chin, condition very serious; unconscious when extricated from wreckage.

Two machines had been making passenger flights during the day and it is understood this was tlij) final flight. At tho time of tho accident tho aeroplane was proceeding back to tho landing ground. The accident occurred in the car-parking area at the entrance to tho racecourse, 100 yards from tho entrance. 1 An eyewitness of the tragedy was Mr. Ernest Luks, of Hamilton, a recently qualified pilot, who just before the accident had landed with a passenger in a Moth machine owned by Mr. L. Oldham, of Hamilton. Mr. Luks said that Captain Saunders' machine had just completed a glide and was about to descend. When at an altitude of from 1000 ft. to 1500 ft. the engine stalled and tho machine went into a corkscrew spin. It descended at a rate of 50 rnilos an hour and struck the ground with a terrific impact. Mr. Luks expressed the opinion that the pilot had throttled tho engine down and that it failed to start. Power Line Just Missed. The impact made a hole in tho level, grassy field 2ft. deep. Tho machine fell on a spot a dozen yards away from a 10,000-volt main electric transmission line. Tho line was alive, and spectators feared that the machine would strike tho line in its descent. Dr. C. Blundell, of Te Awamutu, saw tho aeroplane falling from his house, and anticipating a crash, went with all speed to the scene of the tragedy. He found Mr. Minchin in an unconscious condition. His skull was fractured and he had a compound fracture of the thigh. His right ankle was also fractured and he was severely cut and bruised about tho face and body. Never Recovered Consciousness. The engine of tho aeroplane had been forced through its case into tho passengers' cockpit and had crushed Mr. Minchin. The injured man was removed to a private hospital in To Awamutu, where be died without recovering consciousness at 7.15 p.m. Captain Saunders' pelvis was fractured and ho was severely cut about the body. Ifis lip and chin were cut. lie was suffering also from severe shock. Dr. Blundell stated this evening that Captain Saunders' condition was very serious, but ho entertained hopes for his recovery. Captain Saunders recovered consciousness this evening, but ho was unable to make a statement as to what had happened. He has been operated upon. Dr. Blundell said the trouble could not have originated through shortago of benzine, for the tank was fairly full. Interest in Aviation. Mr. Minchin's parents live at Broadwood, Hokianga. no had been a resident of Hamilton and went to To Awamutu recently to assist his second cousin, Mr Alfred William Minchin, to build a rum ber of houses at Te Awamutu. Ho was very keenly interested in aviation and was the first pupil entered by the To Awamutu Aero Club. He had accom panied Captain Saunders from Hamilton to-day and was to have returned with him. Mi 1 . Minchin was keen to obtain all tho experience he could and had been stunt-flving with Captain Saunders just before tho tragedy. It was his intention (o obtain his airman's certificate in Now Zealand and to proceed to America to engage in commercial aviation. Distinguished War Record!

Captain Saunders has a distinguished record as a pilot. lio served in Franco with tho 60th Squadron, among his colleagues being the famous aviators Ball, MeCudden and Bishop. Ilis " bag " included ten German aeroplanes, and ho was awarded (lie Distinguished Flying Cross. At the cessation of activities ho was King's courier for a time, bearing despatches from Great Britain to Berlin. For a year he was engaged by tho Lithuanian Government on special air service, and then saw three years' service with the Air Force in India. From 1923 to 1928 Captain Saunders was engaged in commercial (lying. Ho was a pilot with Imperial Airways, later coming to Australia, whero he served with West Australian Airways, Limited. Ho was a pioneer pilot in the Sydney-Adelaide air mail service. He arrived in Auckland in May of last year. Tho machine concerned in the tragedy was a do llavilland Gipsy Sloth, which was purchased three months ago in Auckland from Mr. Chalmers, of Fiji. Tho machine had not had much use, and was described as being in first-class condition prior to tho accident It was completely wrecked by the force with which it struck tho ground, only tho tail and back portion being intact. The engine was thrown out of position and was damaged beyond repair. The wings were broken and flattened out, and (lie whole fabric was reduced to a tangled mass of wreckage.

The Moth was one of the fleet, of machines purchased by Mr. I). V. Bryant, of Hamilton, on behalf of tho Bryant llouso Air Service, an organisation formed for the purpose of raising funds with which to finance Bryant llouso and other philanthropic schemes originated by Mr Brvant.

The tragedy was witnessed by a large number of people in neighbouring sports grounds, who wero enjoying the weekly half-holiday. An Aero Club dance, which was to liavo boon held in To Awamutu this evening, was abandoned on account of tho tragedy*