MOUNTAIN CRASH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22911, 19 June 1936, Page 24

MOUNTAIN CRASH

Found lying in the wreckage of an aeroplane recently, on the snow-clad peak of C'rossfcll, a dead pilot was identified as Archibald James Moffatt. He hud been training for lii.s “ li ” flying licence and was not yet 21. Liihome is at Castle Craig, Scotland. Hr Moffatt had taken off from West Mailing, Kent, staling that he intended to fly across the border to Scotland. The discovery of the wreck was made by Sapper Smith, of the Royal Engineers, whose unit were engaged in survey work in the district. The recovery of the body by a putty of police and shepherds provided a dramatic sequel to the tragedy. The weather was stormy, travelling conditions perilous, and in the dark almost every step had its dangers. The party succeeded in carrying the body only for a mile when they had to abandon it for the night. They resumed their task in the morning. and carried the body for two miles, when a horse-drawn sledge met them and completed the journey. The body of the pilot was terribly mutilated, and in his hands was a map of the district, which he had evidently been consulting at the time of the crash.