PLANE SMASHES.

Otaki Mail, 25 August 1930, Page 3

PLANE SMASHES.

COLLISION WITH FENCE. A crash iu a field at I’aekakariki brought an end to an aeroplane trip from Wellington to Feilding and back yesterday. Air. R. Berryman’s machine hit a fence and overturned.

Two members of the Wellington Aero Club, Messrs C. At. Duthie and R. Berryman, set out from Rongotai about 9 o’clock yesterday morning, on a journey to Feilding. Botli of the aviators were club-trained pilots, and Duthie was flying one of the club’s •Aloths, while Air. Berryman was piloting his Avro Avian, The pair reached Feilding without incident, and commenced the return jour-, ney about 1.45. All went well, although they were lacing a strong southerly wind, until they reached Pnekakarild. where they met thick, low-lying cJoud.s, These compelled them to abandon their.intended course, and necessitated their rounding Capo Terawhiti. Landing for Petrol. The petrol which they were carrying, however, would not have been sufficient to have carried them to Rongotai, so the pair decided to land iu a field below and to replenish their fuel supply. - Mr. Duthie alighted without trouble, but Air. Berryman made two unsuccessful attempts, and finally overshot his mark. The machine struck the fence, and tipped forward. With the exception of a cut on the nose, the piiot was uninjured, and intended returning to Wellington by ear at; night. Mr. Duthie refuelled and continued his journey to Wellington, landing qt Rongotai at 5.15 p.m.