AIR FATALITY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22142, 22 June 1935, Page 12

AIR FATALITY

INQUEST AT HOKITIKA EVIDENCE OF lEXPERTB DESTRUCTION OF MACHINE CAUSE OF ACCIDENT UNKNOWN [BY TELEGRAPH— PRESS ASSOCIATION] HOKITIKA, Friday Evidence of Wigram Aerodrome officials was heard at the inquest this afternoon into the death of Mrs. William Newman, who was killed in the aeroplane crash at Waiho yesterday morning. Mrs. Newman was a passenger in the machine. The pilot, Mr. Harold Lawn, is Jq the Westland Hospital suffering f rom shock and severe burns to theT head face and neck, but though his injuries are considerable his condition is T6 . ported to be not serious. Flight-Lieutenant Somerset Thomas who flew from Christchurch yesterday afternoon, after landing at Hokitika went on to Waiho and landed in Con-' don's paddock, two miles from the Waiho landing ground. As an inspector of the Civil Aviation Department he examined the scene of the tragedy and also the landing ground. In evidence at the inquest this afternoon Flight-Lieutenant Thomas said h e saw the remains of the aeroplane which had been completely destroyed by fir® except for the iron work,. Only one wheel was left. Mrs. Newman's death must have been instantaneous.. Frederick William Thornton, leading aircraftsman at Wigram Aerodrome, said he examined the remains of tho machine. He found the elevator and rudder controls still intact though twisted, no pins .having become unfastened. One interplane strut was still intact. The greater part of the engine was melted away and the remainder was a mass of twisted ironwork. Nothing was left of the wings or woodwork. There was nothing to show that the aileron control was in order at the time of the crash or otherwise. He could not say what was the cause of the accident. The inquest was adjourned.