FLYING FATALITY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26996, 3 February 1949, Page 6

FLYING FATALITY

CARELESSNESS OF PILOT Special to the Daily Times WELLINGTON, Feb. 2. The need for the public to take the precaution of satisfying themselves, before engaging in ja flight for which payment was made, that the pilot was duly licensed for that purpose and the aircraft certified in accordance with the regulations could not be overemphasised states the report of the Inspector of Accidents, Air Department, on the accident to a Tiger Moth which struck a tree near Hignbank, Canterbury, on January 16 killing the pilot, C. Parkin and fatally injuring the passenger R. Burrows. The Minister of Civil Aviation, Mr Jones, released a report to-day in which he stated that there could be no doubt of the pilot's intention to engage in low flying, which resulted in his striking the tree in conditions of good visibility, must be attributed to carelessness on the part of the pilot who, within a few minutes of taking off, voluntarily descended several hundred feet and engaged in manoeuvres which were dangerous at the low altitude at which they were carried out. The pilot was not licensed to carry passengers for hire or, reward but on the flight immediately preceding that during which the accident occurred he had done s r . The plane was not more than 20 feet above the ground when it struck the tree. No useful purpose would be served by any further inquiry into the accident.

The following conclusions have been arrived at: , 1. The aii craft was in all respects serviceable at the time of the take-off frb'm Highbank. It was covered by a valid certificate of airworthiness and by a valid certificate of safety for flight issued by a licensed aircraft engineer. 2. There was no reason to suspect pre-crash damage to either the airframe or the engine. 3. The weather conditions at the time had no bearing on the accident. 4. The pilot was not licensed to carry passengers for hire or reward. On this point, the board of inquiry appointed to inquire into the fatal aircraft accident at Cust on March 6 last, made the following recommendation: “That steps should be taken to. stress to the public the advisability, in the interests of their own safety, of satisfying themselves before engaging in a flight for which payment is to be made that the pilot is duly, licensed for that purpose and the aircraft is duly certified in accordance with the regulations. It may again be.saidjis was said on this former occasion that the need for the public to take this precaution cannot be over-emphasised. 5. On the flight immediately preceding the flight during which the accident occurred, the pilot carried a passenger for reward. 6. The aircraft struck the tree when flying at not more than 20 feet above the ground.