AIR TRAGEDY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22412, 7 May 1936, Page 8

AIR TRAGEDY

DOCTOR KILLED WIFE /GRAVELY INJURED MACHINE DROPS LIKE A STONE NEW SOUTH WALES ACCIDENT [from otjb own correspondent] SYDNEY, April 29 A bridegroom of only seven weeks, Dr. Hillis, Kyle Houston, of Scone, New South Wales, was killed 'and his wife was critically injured on Sunday when their Gipsy Moth aeroplane dropped like a stone from 500 ft. nose first into the ground in a paddock which they used as a landing field near their home. Dr. and Mrs. Houston had been on a week-end visit to Mrs. Houston's parents in Sydney when the accident occurred. Aviation experts believe thsit the macliino lost flying speed as it was banking, preparatory to landing, and that there was insufficient height for Dr. Houston to regain control as the aeroplane fell in a spin. Flying as a Hobby Dr. W. O. Pye, also of Scone, who with Dr. Houston owned the machine, was driving out from the town to meet his friends and arrived a few minutes after the crash. "We bought the machine a/,month ago," said Dr. Pye. "Flying was our hobby, but we had intended later on iising the aeroplane if required for medical cases. Dr. Houston had some hundreds of flying hours to his credit, and held an A class certificate. He was a triple Blue of Sydney University and learned to fly with tho London Aero Club while he was doing a post-graduate course in England. He was selected by the London Club as its representative in the LondonBrifitol annual air race and finished fifth. He was a safe pilot who never took unnecessary risks. The machine was a rebuilt Moth and was perfectly airworthy." Much Damage to Aeroplane The owner of the property where Dr. Houston was preparing to land and three other men saw the crash. "When 'we heard the aeroplane coming we went out to the field," he said. "She was flying at about 2000 ft., but was circling and coming down to land. Suddenly, when about 500 ft. up, she dropped like a stone. We ran across the field and dragged the doctor and his wife from the wreck. The first thing I thought about was fire. When we got them out both were unconscious. The machine was badly smashed, the engine being twisted sideways and partly forced into the front cockpit." Well-known Sydney Girl Before her marriage on March 3 Mrs. Houston was Miss Tempe Datson, daughter of the late Mr. W. H. Datson and Mrs. Datson, of Double Bay. The caused considerable interest, for although the engagement was announced late last year, tho wedding date was not announced until a few weeks before the wedding. Mrs. Houston was a very well-known Sydney girl. She was a former student of Sydney Girls' High School, where, after "she graduated at the University of Sydney/ she became an assistant Latin teacher. She has always been a prominent figure in sport, being a keen tennis player and a hockey blue. She represented the university in the interuniversity matches. During last year she spent six months abroad. An operation was performed on Mrs. Houston on the following day, and it ,was hoped to save her life. She suffered injuries to a lung, broken ribs, a broken ankle and head lacerations.