FATAL AIR CRASH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 21007, 19 October 1931, Page 8

FATAL AIR CRASH.

TRAGEDY AT BLENHEIM.

DEATH OF MR. CORY-WRIGHT.

PILOT HELD FREE FROM BLAME. A verdict of death from accident, no blamo being attachable to the pilot, was returned at the adjourned inquest at Blenheim last week into the circumstances of the death of Cyril Wade CoryWright, of Auckland, who died on June 1 as the result of injuries received in an aviation crash at Woodbourne aerodrome on the previous day. Francis Victor Lysons, of Hawera, holder of an "A" pilot's certificate, gave evidence that about May 23 he proceeded to Christchurch to take delivery of an aeroplane, which had been assembled and tested by the staff at Wigram aerodrome. It was quite satisfactory in every way. Witness tested it himself on May 31 before leaving Christchurch. Witness occupied the pilot's seat and Mr. Cory-Wright the front seat. They took it in turns to pilot the machine, which was fitted with dual controls. Witness took off from Wigram and five or 10 minutes later Mr. Cory-Wright took charge and flew as far as Kaikoura, where witness resumed control. On locating the aerodrome at Blenheim witness flew across the aerodrome and turned over the hangar, at an altitude of about 600 ft.

The last recollection witness had was of flying down wind across the aerodrome, so that he thought he must have completed tho turn. The conditions for the flight were good, only a. few "Dumps being experienced at Kaikoura. Hie engino was functioning perfectly. Apparently, after completing the turn, the machine went into a. spin. He had no idea what caused it. He neutralised the controls and applied some "top" rudder, which was the correct thing to do, but there was not sufficient height for the machine to flatten out, and it struck tho ground.

Very Disjointed Memory. Sergeaut Peterson: Have you any idea whether you and Mr. Cory-Wright were pulling against ono another at the controls?—l would not like to say; I have no recollection. My memory of what happened is very disjointed. Replying to further questions witness said ho had had experience of spinning, which was part of every pilot's tramiu S- . . , Being familiar with it, I suppose you would instinctively do the correct thing? —Yes. Replying to further questions, witness said that ho was still in hospital at Blenheim, and likely to remain there for some time to come.

Dorothy May Jordan, residing close to the Woodbourne aerodrome, stated that she witnessed the arrival of the aeroplane over the aerodrome. It turned and went into a spin. Her impression was that the spin originated when the turn was being made. It crashed into the ground still spinning. Stewart Wilson Jordan, father of the previous witness, said he assisted to release the two airmen from the wrecked machine. He got Mr. Lysons clear without assistance, and, when help arrived, got Mr. Cory-Wright out. Inspection of Aeroplane.

Joseph Henry Preston, who at the time of the accident was ground engineer for the Marlborough Aero Club, stated that he assisted to extricate Mr. Cory-Wright from the wreckage, and also gave first aid. Mr. Cory-Wright was not in a condition to make any explanation of the accident and Sir. Lysons* whole worry was as to the condition of his passenger, not of himself. Witness examined the plane, but it was impossible to say whether anything had gone wrong with the controls, owing to the damage sustained. Noel Edgar Chandler, pilot instructor for the Marlborough Aero Club, stated that the machine was so badly wrecked that he could not say whether the controls had jammed or not. The plane had the appearance of having spun into the ground. In the circumstances nothing could be done to avoid a crash, except what Mr. Lysons had described doing.