MANAWATU AIR CRASH

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17954, 5 December 1932, Page 6

MANAWATU AIR CRASH

PILOT’S SEVERE INJURIES MISHAP DURING PAGEANT (Per Press Association.) PALMERSTON N., this clay. When Squadron-Loader McGregor era,,shod during the Manawatu Aero Club’s-migequt at the Milspiyapirodrome oa Saturday afternoon the famous airman received scyere, hea(f ,aufi. bdek injuries, the full extent o.i which has not yet 'been ascertained. , SquadronLeader McGregor 5A on the '.seriously ill list, and his condition is unchanged. ~ . When the mishap occurred the airman was engaged in a balloon bur,sting qompoti.tio,n op a iralloii, djfivqn, by a tricky wind. The balloon was 'pursued whqh'it \vas 120 ft, up, Squiidirp ll ' 'Loader McGregor quit fhe machine- into a. 'fsh'qrt 'divo 7 ans half roll with the intention ot‘ catching, the h-alloon on the, 'propeller as he . To the ho'rrQiy.pf the, crowd the machine went, in,to. a flat dive. If skimmed a barbed-wife fence, by a narrow jnargin, v and landed in a field near the. aerodrome. .1 . 'The. high speed at the time of the impact threw the machine along the ground for 20. yards before it came to rest. Squadron-Leader McGregor Was bleeding profusely from a large gash op the head, and another across the eye. lie was removed to hospital immediately, ~ ~ , • The machine was badly damaged, the ■wings being, the , propeller 'spimterejl and the undercarriage to.t'alTy Wrecked. ", ’ . „ , . ; ' Squadron-Leader Wilkes, Director of ! Air .‘Service's, yesterday held a formal WflMry., - ' ,■• - • ~ Thq accident causes severe loss to the Manawatu club, which is, now without a plane at a time when a large ■number of. pupils are ibeing trained.

FORMER GISBORNE MACHINE The Manawatu c.lub’s plane, ZKAiRA, was familiar, sight to Gisborne people until ;a few ’months, ago., . ft was used as a second machine, by Gisborne Air Transport,: Limited, on the Gisborne-llastings service for more than 12, months, and was sold, to the Manawatu <clul> in August. It was a metal Moth, with a coupe top, and was considered to be one, of the most attractive machines of the type in New Zealand. Gisborne Air Transport, Limited, purchased the plane from Mr 1). Mill, New Zealand age,flt for the de Ilavilland Company, \yho had used it, previously for a few dymqnstratio 11 flights. It liad done .approximately 80 .hours flyiiig thoTi, and ’thy Gisborne company did ,gbout 400 hours wjfh .it bpfore “it was sold to the Manawatu Club. . . , .... .....