AEROPLANE FATALITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20890, 4 June 1931, Page 10

AEROPLANE FATALITY.

THE CRASH AT BLENHEIM. DEATH OF AUCKLANDER. FORTITUDE OF THE PILOT. Further details of the aeroplane accident at AVoodbourne aerodrome, Blenheim, last Sunday, in which Mr. Cyril Cory-Wright, of Auckland, lost his life, and the pilot, Mr. Frank V. Lyssons, of Hawera, was injured, show that the weather conditions for flying wero almost ideal. A northwester was blowing. The sky was clear. As the airmen had not advised Blenheim of their intention to call on the way from Christchurch to Wellington, there were no officials at the aerodrome when the machine arrived, but the accident was witnessed by Miss Dorothy Jordan and her young brother. They called their father, Mr. Stewart Jordan, who at once rushed to the rescue. He found both airmen pinned in the wreckage and had some difficulty in extricating them, particularly in the case of Mr. Cory-Wright, but ultimately succeeded in getting them clear.

In tho meantime, Mr. H. Preston, the Aero Club's ground engineer, who had noticed tho machine over Blenheim, and who at onco set off for tho aerodrome to render tho airmen what service they might require, put in an appearance, and was able to render first aid, with the use of tho club's medical kit.

Squadron-Leader N. E. Chandler was also early on the scene.

According to Miss Jordan, and to a brief statement made by Mr. Lyssons, the machine, when circling the aerodrome, went into a. spin, and the pilot was unable 'to recover control in time, the machine spinning straight to the ground and striking the earth with such an impact that the engine was partly buried, while the whole of tho superstructure was reduced to shattered wreckage. Fortunately tho wreck did not take fire, although a good deal of petrol was in evidence, for if it had, nothing could have saved the men, trapped as they wero in the shattered fuselage. Mr. Jordan and Squadron-Leader Chandler are warm in their praise of the courage and fortitude displayed by Mr. Lyssons, for although his leg was so badly broken that tho jagged end of the bono was protruding through the flesh, and he was suffering from other injuries, he fiercely declined to accept any attention until his companion, who was in a semi-conscious condition, had been looked after. Mr. Jordan states that when ho arrived, Mr. Lyssons was almost helpless, and unable to extricate himself from the wreck. Nevertheless, he was giving what attention ho could to his sorelystricken comrade, pinned in front of him, and had succeeded in loosening his collar and in making him as comfortable as possible under the circumstances.

The scene of the accident was visited during tho afternoon by hundreds of people. The wreckage was removed by the Aero Club in the late afternoon. It is stated that, with the possible exception of the engine, the aeroplane was so badly shattered that no portion will be salvablo. Tho accident breaks the long run of immunity from disaster which has been enjoyed by both the Blenheim aerodromes. They had witnessed a few minor crashes, involving damage of a more or less serious nature to several machines, but in no case previously has anyone been injured, with the exception of a few cuts sustained by a pupil pilot at the Municipal Aerodrome a couple of years ago. THE LATE MR. CORY-WRIGHT. BURIAL AT MANGERE TO-DAY. The funeral of the late Mr. Cyril Wade Cory-Wright, of Parncll, will tako place this afternoon. A service will be held at St. Mary's Cathedral, tho cortege later proceeding to the Mangere Cemetery. 'I he service and the burial will bo conducted Dy Archdeacon Mac Murray. The pall bearers—all members of the Auckland Aero Club, to which Mr. CoryWright belonged—will be Mr. Spencer R. Mason, president, Mr. E. R. Boucher, club captain, tho Rev. C. G. Scrimgeour and Messrs. S. A. Andrew, F. B. Cadman and C. M. Richwhite.

During the burial, I 1 light-Lieutenant D. M. Allen, instructor to the club, will slowly circle above tho cemetery in an aeroplane, as a mark of respect.