FATAL AIR CRASH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21326, 29 October 1932, Page 10

FATAL AIR CRASH

, WELLINGTON TRAGEDY INSTRUCTIONS TO PILOT 7 EVIDENCE AT INQUEST «• APPARENTLY TOOK A CHANCE " Isx TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] WELLINGTON, Friday The inquest into the death of Messrs. Francis Grosser and George Bourne Steven King, the two men who were killed when their aeroplane was wrecked 011 a hill north of Tawa Flat 011 Tuesday afternoon, ■was held to-day. After hearing the evidence of Squadron-Leader G. L. Stedman, Constable, Tocker, of Johnsonville, Captain G. B- Bolt and Mr. A. W. Nisbet, the coroner, Mr. E. Gilbertson, returned a verdict that the men sustained fatal injuries when the aeroplane crashed into a hill which was obscured on account of the foggy atmospheiic conditions. It was one of those unfortunate accidents that happen in flying, said tho coroner. The pilot had apparently taken a chance. He should have followed the instructions of Captain Bolt regarding his route; but. he had not done so and had flown into a hill at terrific speed and both meii had been killed instantaneously. In his evidence, Squadron-Leader Stedman said the machine was the Wellington Aero Club's best Moth. On the day of the fatality the weather conditions for flying were all right from Paekakariki north, but between there and Wellington clouds were low, particularly at Johnsonville, where they covered tho hilltops. Uirce other machines had got through from New Plymouth, but had crossed tho range of hills further north and had flown down the Hjitt Valley. " Lost Their Way in Clouds " Witness said he had known Gresser for two years. "I considered Gresser was a safe enough pilot in good weather, but he would be rather unreliable in case of extreme emergency," he added. Senior-Sergeant Caldwell: From the position where the aeroplane was found, are vou able to say what was the cause of the accident ? Squadron-Leader Stedman : Well, 1 think it is quite obvious. They got into the clouds, lost their way and crashed into the hill. .There was plenty of benzine in the tank. The Coroner; You don't think Gresser was carefess ? Witness: No. I wouldn t say he was careless, but there was no necessity for him to go into the clouds. Why he did that I don't know. In answer to Mr. G. Powles, who appeared on behalf of tho Wellington Aero Club, witness said that when he was communicated with from Wanganui he had recommended Gresser to cross into the Hutt Valley via Moonshine. Mr. Powles: You think probably he committed, an error of judgment in not crossing into the Hutt A alley further north ?—Yes. Captain Bolt's Evidence * George Bruce. Bolt, pilot-engineer to the Wellington Aero Club, said he left New Plymouth about an hour after the deceased on the morning of the tragedy. He landed at Wanganui and met Gresser, who was then waiting for a better weather report from Wellington. He told Gresser to wait at Palmerston North until he rang him from Wellington. On arriving at Wellington witness got in touch with Gresser at Palmerston North and told him that ho (witness) had got through quite easily to Upper Hutt. Witness told Gresser to try that route and if he could not get through there to try the usual route, and if lie could not get through there to come down the coast. Gresser was bound under the rules of the club to follow witness' instructions. Witness also told Gresser that if he got into any difficulty he should return to Levin/' The Corqner: How do you account for his not following these instructions ? Witness: It was quite all right for him to come down the Johnsonville route, but I caiVt understand him flying into the clouds. - Club Officials Exonerated In answer to further questions from the coroner, Captain Bolt said ho considered that the speed at the time the aeroplane crashed must have been at least 100 miles ' an hour. When Mr. Powles proposed calling Mr. Nisbet, secretary of the Aero Club, the coroner remarked that he supposed counsel wanted to justify the club. "Well, I am satisfied that the club was not to blame in any way," he said. "It seems to me that the man was an embryo flyer, did not know enough and lost his head." After Mr. Nisbet had given evidence the coroner, in returning his verdict, said . there was no doubt that the officials of the club had done all in their power to give the flyers information as to weather conditions and the right course to take. Subsequently the officials had done all in their power to find the lost ineu.