AIR TAXI CRASH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22349, 21 February 1936, Page 12

AIR TAXI CRASH

INQUEST OPENED PASSENGER'S EVIDENCE BAD FLYING WEATHER "PILOT TAKING NO CHANCES" [BY TRLEGKAPH—TRESS association] WELLINGTON, Thursday Evidence regarding the flying accident at Kongotai aerodrome yesterday, when a Union Airways private charter machine crashed after striking the wind-indicator mast, fatally injuring Squadron-Leader M. C. McGregor, service manager of Union Airways, who was piloting the machine, was given at the inquest to-day by Mr. Charles William Fielden Hamilton, of Fairlie, who was the only passenger in the aeroplane, and escaped with slight injuries.

Mr. Hamilton said the aeroplane left Palmerston North at 2.5 p.m. for Wellington, in steady rain. The visibility was about 1000 yards. Flying conditions were bad, and the trip down the western coast was bumpy, the altitude being from 500 ft. to 600 ft. Wellington was sighted at about 3.5 p.m., and the machine circled the aerodrome at Kongotai once at an altitude of about 200 ft, Rain on Windscreen "When we were about to land from (he northern side a wing struck something, which I later ascertained to be the wind-indicator." said witness. "Owing to rain on the windscreen the visibility was not good, and 1 did not see the indicator before the accident and do not think Mr. McGregor saw it. I am positive that the cause of the accident was the aeroplane striking this apparatus."

Witness said he was seated behind the pilot at the time of the crash. .Replying to the coroner, witness said he was not talking to the pilot. They could see the whole of the aerodrome quite clearly. The pilot was chiefly looking out the only open window, that on the lefthand side, and glancing also to his right. The Coroner: You say that visibility through the windscreen was bad ? Witness: Well, it was rather blurred, not like what it would hove been on a fine day. The coroner asked if there were not windscreen wipers. Witness said he did not notice any. Certainly none was in action.

Squadron-Leader G. L. Stedman, asked on ihe point, said that it was not common to have windscreen wipers in aeroplanes. " Most Experienced Pilot "

Squadron-Leader Stedman said deceased was one of the most experienced pilots in New Zealand, with a wonderful war record. The machine would be in good order, and deceased would be familiar with it.

"He was landing a bit short, and obviously struck the anemometer mast with the right wing," said witness. The wind was gusty and was blowing at from 15 to 35 miles an hour from the south.

The Coroner: He was a great "stuntcr." 1 know, but did he take chances?

Witness: In flying such as he was doing yesterday, no chances whatever. Sub-Inspector C. E. Roach said the machine would have to be examined and expert evidence would later be called. The inquest was adjourned sine die.

BRILLIANT ACHIEVEMENTS AIR FORCE OFFICERS' TRIBUTES [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] HASTINGS. Thursday Tributes to the distinguished flying record of the late Squadron-leader McGregor and to his personal character were paid by Squadron-Leader L. M. Isitt, R.N.Z.A.F., commandant of the Hobsonville Air Base, and by FlightLieutenant M. W. Buckley, R.N.Z.A.F., both of whom are visiting Hastings. "It was with very sincere regret that 1 learned of the death of SquadronLeader McGregor,"' said SquadronLeader Isitt. "He had a most distinguished war record as a pilot, and was the best-known commercial pilot in NewZealand. He confirmed the universally high opinion of his previous great achievements by his very fine performance in the Melbourne Centenary Air Race, and his death will be a great loss to Union Airways and to commercial aviation generally. It was the luck of the game that an accident from which he might easily have escaped with only slight injuries should have caused his death." "I have been closely associated with Squadron-Leader McGregor, as Squad-ron-Leader Isitt was, for many years," said Fligbt-Lieutcnant Buckley, "and 1 looked upon him as a brilliant airman, a modest gentleman, and a staunch comrade. His flying achievements, both in war and in peace, marked him out as an airman far above the average. He was a daring but thoroughly skilled pilot; in fact, he was one of those rare men who had T?he instinctive genius for aviation. His death will be deeply mourned by everybody connected with aviation in this country, as well as by many who came to know him abroad as a war pilot and as a contestant ill the Centenary Air Race."