PLANE CRASHES ON LINKS

Southland Times, Issue 23374, 4 December 1937, Page 8

PLANE CRASHES ON LINKS

PASSENGER DIES IN HOSPITAL

PILOT SLIGHTLY INJURED

(United Press Association)

WELLINGTON, December 3.

Diving from a height of between 100 and 200 feet after taking off from the Rongotai airport early this evening on the return journey to Palmerston North the Manawatu and Middle Districts Aero Club Moth aeroplane ZK-ABV crashed on to a mound on a fairway almost opposite the club house on the Miramar golf links and was completely wrecked. The pilot, W. Smillie, received slight injuries and severe shock but the passenger, R. L. Elliott, was badly injured and died without regaining consciousness in the Wellington public hospital soon after he was admitted. Smillie was also admitted to the hospital. Tonight his condition was reported as satisfactory.

The accident would have been even worse had it. not been for the efficiency of the auxiliary fire brigade staff attached to the airport. Inside three minutes of the crash the engine was manned by the officer in charge of the airport (Mr C. W. Roots), the chief ground engineer (Mr H. P. Roberts) and another member of the staff (Mr Sheldon Smith). When they arrived, at the wreck from the boundary side of the links and the aerodrome the flames were beginning to spread but they were checked before any damage was done. FLYING SPEED LOST The machine arrived from Palmerston North at 6.35 p.m., piloted by Elliott. He picked up Smillie who decided to pilot the plane home and the machine took off from Rongotai at 6.38 p.m. into a south-south-easterly wind. According to witnesses of the plane’s departure the machine took a left-hand turn and flew down-wind for a short distance. Then it appeared to lose flying speed and though from the ground it could be seen that the pilot made an effort to keep control the machine failed to respond and dived into the ground. There were several golfers on the course at the time and they rushed to assist the pilot, who could be seen struggling to free himself. The passenger, however, was knocked unconscious by the impact which so telescoped the fuselage of the plane that the rear- of the front seat of the cockpit was almost pushed against the engine. Elliott was taken from the machine badly hurt just as the flames began to spread from the engine which was saturated with petrol from the punctured fuel tank. The noise of the crash was loud enough to be heard at Kilbimie but actually from the marks on the ground where the nose struck it appeared that the machine did not dive at a very high speed. The nose scooped a hole less than six inches deep and this was the only place noticeable where the machine had made contact with the grourid. The undercarriage was wiped off, the central portion of the fuselage smashed and telescoped and the wings torn from the struts. The instrument panels in each cockpit were broken to pieces but the tail-end of the plane was practically intact. MACHINE DISMANTLED The wreckage was later inspected by Flight-Lieutenant J. M. Buckeridge, Assistant Controller of Civil Aviation, and other officers and the machine was dismantled by car-light. The plane was about five years old. The fatally injured pilot was a son of Mr and Mrs John Elliott, 22 Colombo street, Palmerston North, and was in the employ of Johnston and Co. Ltd. He was educated at the Palmerston North Boys’ High School and took a keen interest in all branches of sport, playing senior A cricket for the Old Boys’ Club, senior Rugby a few seasons ago for the United Club, tennis for the Manawatu Club and golf for the Palmerston North Club. At the latter sport this season he won the Goldfinch and Cousins Cup. His age was about 22 years. He received his flying tuition with the Middle Districts Club and had about 90 hours to his credit. He was a pilot in the Civil Reserve and recently obtained a licence. Smillie is one of the three sons of Mr and Mrs D. F. Smillie, well-known residents of Palmerston North. He is about 20 years of age. He obtained his A licence with the Middle Districts Club. He is at present training for his B licence. To his credit stand between 80 and 100 flying hours as well as a good deal of cross-country experience. He is a Civil Reserve pilot. His two other brothers are also members of the Aero Club and Mr Smillie, sen., is a life member of the club. He was president of the Milson Aerodrome (Inc.) before it was taken over by the Palmerston North City Council.