AEROPLANE CRASHES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21493, 17 May 1933, Page 10

AEROPLANE CRASHES

ACCIDENT NEAR WESTPORT PILOT'S MIRACULOUS ESCAPE While flying over Carter's Junction, near Westport, an aeroplane, piloted by Mr. J. Spencer Allen, an accountant, crashed from a height of about 1000 feet. Although the machine was completely wrecked, the pilot miraculously escaped injury. Mr. Allen took off from the southern end of Carter's Beach and climbing steadily he flew over the Buller River, when he turned inland over Carter's. He estimated that he was flying at about 1000 feet when he realised the engine was not giving its full power, probably clue to a blockage in the carburettor. Tho aeroplane could not maintain flight and commenced to descend rapidly, with the engine at full throttle, the pilot endeavouring to prevent tho machine from going into a spin. Mr. Allen just managed to clear some applo trees on his headlong courso and then tho aeroplano dashed to earth noso first, tho propeller smashing to atoms, tho stub burying itself about a foot in tho ground. Tho foro part of the fuselage crumpled up and tho engine was almost torn away from its mounting which doubled back underneath. Tho wings and tail were also badly broken. The machine, which was recently imported from tho United States, was a highwinged monoplane.