CRASH INTO HANGAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20690, 9 October 1930, Page 14

CRASH INTO HANGAR.

(WRECK OF AEROPLANE. PILOT'S LUCKY ESCAPE. PUPIL UNDERGOING TEST. ACCIDENT AT WIGRAM. tBY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] CIIRISTCHURCH. Wednesday. A Moth aeroplane piloted by Mr. J. Grimes, a pupil of tho Canterbury Aero Club, crashed into tho roof of one r of the hangars at tho Wigram Aerodrome this morning. Tho pilot, who was undergoing tho tests for his licence and was flying solo, escaped injury. Wing-Commander S. Grant Dalton, Director of Air Services, who was observing the tests as examining officer, said that Mr. Grimes was doing figures of eight at tho time and was losing height at each turn. Finally he caine toward tha hangars and evontually, his height not being sufficient to clear them, he crashed when turning. One wing caught the cross-bar of an electric-light pole at Iho rear of the hangar and tho aeroplane, which, at tho time, was going toward tho front of the sheds, spun right over and stopped with its n<">ie buried 'into tho roof, lying partly on its side .and facing tho other way. One wing .was crumpled beneath it. The accident liad apparently been duo not to any fault of tho machine, but to an error of judgment on tho part of the" pilot. Only the Motor Intact. A large hole was torn in tho roof of :Ihe hangar and tho aeroplane itself, ex»«ept for the motor, which is of considerable) value, was a complete wreck. The wings were crumpled and sheared at the junction with the fuselage. The fuselage was bent and shattered just behind tho motor and tho propeller was smashed. - r Fortunately, the rear-pilot's cockpit was •left clear and Mr. Grimes was able to ; get out without difficulty. The remaining five pupils continued with their tests and thoso questioned said that the flying conditions were good. ; Mr. Grimes himself was unwilling to say anything about the accident, which lie agreed was a piece of bad luck. Ho will now bo unable to go up for hi.3 pilot's licence for some time until the examining tests are again held in Christchurch, Later in tho morning ho went up in the club's other machine in tho company of Mr. J. C. Mercer, tho club's instructor. Corporal Vaden, one of the Air Force photographers, who had been working at the time of tho accident in the building into which the machine crashed, said he received a severe shock. Twice previously ho had been in a building when an aeroplane had fallen into it. Previous Crash Recalled.

Arrangements were set in hand im mediately to repair the six-foot hole in the roof, as much valuable photographic material was stored below it. Some damage was done by oil, which came ' from the machine. A number of Air ' "Force mechanics quickly set to work dis--mantling the machine and lowering the parts to the ground. Before it could bo V released much of the roofing had to bo v';cut away. It has not yet been decided ' r .;whether the aeroplane can bo rebuilt, this, being dependent upon the decision ..Vbf the Air Forco authorities after inspection.

The Aero Club had no insurance (n the machine, which was the one in which Miss Aroha Clifford crashed some months ago. It had done in all 600 fly- • ; ing hours. The New Zealand Aero Club, ; representing all aero clubs, is endeavouriv.ing to make arrangements for insurance of aeroplanes which cannot at present be obtained in New Zealand. ;-,The Canterbury Aero Club is now left ,' With only ono machine, but another purrtchased on its account will arrive from : England at the end of tiro month. 2,': The aeroplane that was wrecked to--.'day; was the second the club has lost cand both have been Government property •: on loan to tho club. Although this is • :.;the third accident to an Aero Club aero.■'l'.plane it is tho first time anything has •c happened when a machine has been - piloted by a pupil. In each of the other cases tho pilots had already obtained s-their "A", licences and nearly 30 pupils z have received their training without acincident.