SEAPLANE CRASH

Southland Times, Issue 21001, 6 February 1930, Page 5

SEAPLANE CRASH

POINT COOK TRAGEDY REPORT OF INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE FLIGHT UNAUTHORIZED (United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) Rugby, February 4. The Air Accidents Investigation Committee at Melbourne has reported regarding the seaplane tragedy on January 6 in which Captain Hugh Grosvenor, Flight-Lieutenant Briggs and leading aircraftsman Ewen were killed.

The report states that the flight was undertaken- to give Captain Grosvenor instruction in the operation of an amphibian machine which was being flown under dual control. Authority was not obtained to make the flight under such conditions and the flight was quite unauthorized. There was no evidence of engine failure or structural defect and the accident was apparently due to some crisis in the course of instruction. The Board recommends £5OO compensation each for the widows of Briggs and Ewen. —British Official Wireless.

Captain Hugh Grosvenor, aide-de-camp to the Governor of South Australia. FlightLieutenant A. Briggs, of the Royal'Australian Air Force, and ,D. C. Ewen, leading aircraftsman at Point Cook flying school, were the victims of the tragedy. In a Wac-kett-Widgeon seaplane, the , party was cruising round the Point Cook Air Force aerodrome before beginning a flight over Port Phillip Bay. The ill-fated machine suddenly nosedived and struck the water about a mile from Point Cook. An eye-witness stated that the speed was terrific, and the airmen had no time to jump.

Grosvenor and Briggs had intended to try to break the existing record between Australia and England. Briggs and Ewen were married. The former’s wife was on her way to England, where she intended to meet her husband on his arrival there.

The reason for the plane’s sudden nosedive is unknown. It was built in Australia of Australian material about? 18 months ago, and was flown round Australia in 1928. CAUSE OF ACCIDENT NOT DETERMINED. (Rec. 6.55 p.m.) Melbourne, February 5. The Air Accidents Investigation Committee, reporting to the Minister of Defence, states it cannot advance any theory to explain the crashing of the Widgeon seaplane into Port Philip Bay on January 6, resulting in the death of Grosvenor, Briggs and Ewen. The plane was an experimental one and the service trials were not completed. The flight appeared to have been for the purpose of instructing Captain Grosvenor in the operation of the amphibian craft, but though the machine and engine were inspected before the flight no authority had been given to Captain Grosvenor to be a passenger.

So far as is ascertainable no engine or structural failure occurred. Several causes were possible, but the evidence is insufficient to warrant the committee selecting any one thereof.