'PLANE'S CLOSE CALL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17237, 17 April 1930, Page 7

'PLANE'S CLOSE CALL

LANDING ON SOFT GROUND LAPPED BY WAVES STRUGGLE IN RAIN-STORM A forced landing on the beach, 10 miles north of Kauhia, in order to shelter from a heavy storm approaching, placed the .Moth plane of the New Plymouth Aero Club in serious difficulties on Monday morning. The plane, piloted by Lieutenant Tan Keith, with Mr. S. E. Nielson, secretary of the club, as a passenger, buried its wheels in the wet sand, and the flood tide lapped the flyers' shoes as they strained to drag the plane to safety. Meanwhile a fier'co gale raged and ram fell heavily.

Threo landings were made on the trip from tho Auckland pageant to New Plymouth, and, despite the hazards, the machine was not damaged, and the men were merely fatigued.

The machine left Auckland shortly after 7 a.m. and, Hearing Kawhia, the storm could 'bo seen sweeping from the sea across the route. The pilot aimed to escape the storm by a detour seaward behind tho storm, but the plane soon was being severely battered by wind, and rain was making visibility very bad.

Glimpsing a patch of beach near the liver-mouth, Lieutenant Keith decided to land and escape the fury of the storm. A good landing was made, but to tho flyers' dismay the sand was found to bo too soft for the weight. The machine stopped near the water's edge, and the tide was rising fast, lapping near tho men's feet as they struggled to move the plane. They succeeded after somo time in shifting the plane a few yards.

Resuming his seat, Lieutenant Keith opened the throttle while Mr. Nielson clung to the tan-piece to steady the plane. Tho engine was roaring loudly, but the, plane appeared as though itwere not going to move. Suddenly it broke looso and, despite Mr. Nielson's efforts, the machine's tail tilled into the air and she stood on her nose, embedding tho propeller in the sand. Nothing was broken and the men dragged the piano further along the beach, where a better surface was found. It was decided that Mr. Nielson should remain behind and thus lighten the plane's load, and that Lieutenant Keith should attempt to take off and seek a nearby paddock to land in.

Ab last the machine took off and Lieutenant Keith made a landing in a small paddock in the midst of rough country, two miles and a-half away. Mr. Nielson tramped over the sand dunes, across tho river, and found the plane with a large group of bewildered Maoris gathered round. Refreshments were secured and the pair took off at 11 a.m., the storm having moderated. They found tho petrol supply short, so returned to Kawhia and replenished before resuming the direct flight to New Plymouth, where they landed ai about 2 p.m.