DEATH OF LIEUT. KINKEAD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20426, 5 June 1928, Page 13

DEATH OF LIEUT. KINKEAD.

THE INQUEST CONCLUDED. ENGINE “ STALLED ” IN LANDING. (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, April 26. At the final sitting of the inquest on Flight-lieutenant Kinkead, whose aeroplane dived into the Solent, when attempting to beat the world speed record, an Air Ministry inspector said that as a resu’t of his examinatios of the wreckage ' ame to the conclusion that no :he aircraft structure or controls or failed to function normally dur...r the flight, nor did the engine fail. This witness also expressed the opinion that at the moment of his death Kinkead had probably decided to abandon his attempt to break the world’s flying record owing to the weather conditions. “ I am of the opinion,” he said, “ that the machine stalled at a" height of about 50ft, when the pilot was attempting to land, and that Kinkead misjudged his height above the water. I think he had abandoned the idea of flying the speed course.” The Coroner: So far as you know there was no reason why he should abandon the flight?—My opinion is he abandoned it because of the weather conditions. He added that he was definitely of the opinion that Kinkead did not do or omit to do anything as a result of being affected in the slightest degree by fumes. The Coroner; I understand that another attempt to break the record is going to be made, and it would be lamentable' if there were another fatality. Major Cooper: I think you can take it that everything that can be done has been done, and will be done. He added that possibly in a year’s time everybody would be flying at 20u to 300 miles an hour. The Coroner said that Kinkead’s death was due to misadventure caused by hemorrhage, shock, and extensive injuries as a result of the seaplane diving into the sea owing to loss of flying speed when he was attempting to land. “ I feel sure,” he added, ‘‘that everything possible will be done to eliminate the danger from fumes, and I am satisfied that in a machine of this type it is not feasible totally to enclose the pilot in the cockpit.”