“FOOLHARDY” ACTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27259, 9 December 1949, Page 10

“FOOLHARDY” ACTION

FLYING AIRCRAFT TOO LOW FINE OF £25 IMPOSED PA TAURANGA, Dec. 8. “ You are guilty of an action of the foolhardy nature," Mr E. Walton, S.M., told Anthony Bryce Dennis, a company manager, of Hamilton, who admitted a charge of flying an aircraft at a low altitude so as to cause unnecessary danger. The prosecution was the sequel to numerous complaints lodged by residents of Mount Maunganui, where Dennis, on September 10, hired an aircraft from the Tauranga Aero Club. He was fined £25, with costs.

The police stated that shortly after Dennis had hired the plane, both the aero club and Air Control were inundated with telephone calls from persons living at Mount Maunganui complaining of low and dangerous flying by the pilot of one of the club's planes. The only plane up at the time was that piloted by Dennis. One resident stated that the plane came down very low, and described the landing wheels as being no more than 10ft off the beach. The second complainant, himself a pilot, said the plane flew just over the roofs of houses in the main street, and he estimated the height at between 50 and 100 ft. He said Dennis made two circuits at a “ ridiculously low level.” Dennis claimed that he had hired the plane to survey a proposed fishing ground. When about 400 ft from Mount Maunganui he had put the plane to a 3deg bank, and later to a steep “ flick.” While doing so, he became ill and considered landing on the beach. In view of the number of people there, he decided against this. Dennis denied flying low over the township. “ The Director of Civil Aviation desires the serious attitude in which he regards this breach to be placed before you,” Senior Sergeant J. Corston told the magistrate.