A FATAL DIVE

Southland Times, Issue 21089, 22 May 1930, Page 6

A FATAL DIVE

PLANE CRASHES PASSENGER SUCCUMBS TO INJURIES PILOT IN . HOSPITAL (Per United Press Association.) Te Awamutu, May 21. With a crash heard over a mile away, a De Haviland Moth machine owned by Hamilton -Airways, conducted in conjunction with the Bryant Home, crashed to the. earth near the T/Awainutu landing ground at the racecourse at 4.25 this afternoon. Two machines were making passenger flights during 'the day and it is understood this was the final flight. The pilot, Saunders, of Auckland, jis suffering from shock, severe cuts on rhe forehead and chin. His condition is not believed to be serious. Alfred W. Minchin, aged 24, single, of Te Awamutu, suffers from severe cuts to the chin, a compound fracture of the left ankle, concussion, and may have a fracture of the skull. His condition is very serious. Both are unconscious; Tire plane was proceeding from a flight to the landing ground and appeared to rise sligKtly and from an altitude of about 1000 feet begin a corkscrew spin.- After turning three times it was evident that the pilot attempted to flatten out, but by this time the altitude was not more than 50 feet and the plane continued its downward course, ■ making an almost direct nose dive to the-ground. The machine was reduced to a tangled mass of wreckage. The nose,of the machine drove a short furrow in a paddock about 3 feet deep with the' engine and fuselage crumpled in an almost unrecognizable mass, and the wings wrenched from the machine and scattered about. The pilot was thrown almost clear, being only partially beneath the wreckage, but the passenger was thrown forward and pinned directly under the debris which had to be lifted bodily before the passenger could be extricated. Assistance was immediately available and within a few minutes of the crash both ’•were motored to a private hospital a mile away from the scene of the mishap.

The pilot of the other machine says that Saunders remarked earlier in the day that the altimeter of the machine which crashed did not appear to register, moreover, both had experienced difficulties through dead air in this particular locality. It is assumed that Saunders misjudged the height before attempting his spin and did not realize his predicament until too late to flatten out. The falling plane fell within 20 ■ feet of the main electric high tension line.

Minchin, a carpenter, had practically completed his flying time in the Auckland Club and it was understood this was his final flight before qualifying for a solo-flight. He had journeyed to Hamilton so as to make a flight with the planes earlier in the day to Te Awamutu. The pilot, Saunders, had been called from Auckland to take the place of Major Cowper, who was to have piloted this machine. Passenger’s Death. A later message states that Minchin died at 7 o’clock. His age was 24, and he was single. His parents reside at Broadwood, Hokianga. He was completing a course of instruction and was practically ready for a solo flight. He had expressed his intention of proceeding to America to take up flying professionally after gaining a New Zealand pilot’s license. He was prominent in Waikato football.