CRASH ON MOUNTAIN

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18252, 22 November 1933, Page 3

CRASH ON MOUNTAIN

AEROPLANE TRAGEDY FINDING OF BODIES BOTH KILLED INSTANTLY (Per Press Association.) GREY MOUTH, last, night. Upon the bleak mountain side, 10011. below a ridge, near Tunwhati s summit, the sea reliefs, of whom 54 were nut, ascertained at- mul /jay tlm late of the missing aeroplane, just where the first sparelier yesterday, Mieliael I reacy, judged Hud, Hie, crush had occurred. The dead bodies of the pilot, Mr. dark Renton, and his passenger, Mr. James Daniel Lynch, were seated in the cockpit. Indications were that the machine hit a rock head on. Tho engine was forced back against Air. Lynch, whose head and body was much mutilated. Pilot Renton’s forehead was cut and it is reported that an ankle was fractured. The deaths were instantaneous.

Mr. Treacy’s theory was entirely confirmed by the discovery. Mr. Renton had evidently decided to return, but flying in a cloud rendered the mountain invisible. Had the plane been a little over 100 ft. higher, or further to the right, the ridge would have been missed. Tire pilot may have searched for a sight of the Terentakau River to guide him. ON AN EVEN KEEL The actual discoverer of the plane was Air. Walter Neame, while Mr. Treaty almost immediately came up with Air. Neame’s party, which included the dead pilot’s brother. It was found that Mr. Treacy the previous day had passed within a chain of the spot in the fog, so accurately had he gauged the position from the crash he had heard. The bodies were removed from the plane, but left on the mountain with a covering till to-morrow, as it was impossible to-day to convey them down, owing to the track being deep in mud. Thirty-five men are going out to-morrow at daybreak, it being reckoned that 10 or 12 hours will be needed to transport the bodies to the road for removal to Hokitika, where both funerals will probably be held on Thursday. The plane, which was that used by Captain Mercer, the Canterbury Aero Club insrtuctor, and Mr. Renton s tutor, is a complete wreck. Though it is on an even keel the impact turned it at right angles to the direction of the impact. The day could not have been worse for the search, visibility being extremely poor and there being a heavy fog over the hills. SEARCHERS’ LONG HOURS Commencing at the point of search, a bush track by the Neame homestead, the men spread over an area of from two to three miles and all kept within audible Contact. Back in the hills visibility was not more than 6ft. and conditions underfoot were, mullock,v and slippery. The procedure was to climb the hills to about where there is a plateau. From that point they set about combing the hills. A number of searchers returned before noon in a drenched condition. Supplies were sent by Greymouth business people and other town parties provided hot meals for the men as they returned. The Treacv family, brothers and sisters, attended all helpers and deserve much credit for their part in the emergency work. Captain Mercer arrived by plane at Hokitika, via Nelson, at noon, but was dissuaded from making an observation flight owing to tho fog. Dr. Eugene Lynch, a son of deceased, flew to Sockburn to-day, and arrives on the West Coast to-morrow. Many searchers were out for 10 hours or more, and some had not returned by late this afternoon, but no anxiety is felt.