CRASH OF MOTH AEROPLANE

Southland Times, Issue 23390, 23 December 1937, Page 11

CRASH OF MOTH AEROPLANE

Inquest Into Death Of Pilot OFFICIAL INQUIRY ON JANUARY 24 (United Press Association; WELLINGTON, December 22. A finding that Ridley Lenderyou Elliott, aged 22, of Palmerston North, died in the Wellington hospital on December 3 from multiple injuries suffered through the Manawatu and Middle Districts Aero Club’s Moth aeroplane ZKABV crashing near the Rongotai aerodrome on the same date was given by the Coroner, Mr J. L. Gilbertson, at an inquest today. William Smillie, the pilot, a clerk aged 19, the holder - of an A licence, said that after asking Elliott what conditions were like on the trip from Palmerston North he removed from the luggage locker a canvas . bundle containing screw pickets and rope and placed a suitcase in the locker. . He told Elliott, who was going to sit in the front seat, that the pickets would have to be carried in the front cockpit and placed the bundle on the front seat. He did not know how Elliott disposed of it. The second cushion out of the pilot’s seat was also given to Elliott. Witness fastened his safety belt and as far as he knew Elliott did the same, as witness asked him through the inter-cockpit telephone. The engine was not stopped during the seven to 10 minutes the machine was on the ground. They took off and the engine revolutions shortly afterwards showed 1850 to the minute. At 150 to 200 feet he eased the throttle back and made a flat climbing turn to the left. The air-speed indicator then showed the speed as 58 to 60 miles an hour. MACHINE STARTS TO BURN He completed a turn of 180 degrees and started to adjust the tail-trimming gear. He was easing the lever of the trimming gear back when the machine seemed to tip suddenly with the left wing down. He could not recall what action he then took, but remembered seeing the ground directly over the nose of the machine. The next thing he could recall was struggling to free his right foot after the crash. He then recalled going forward to try to move a wing off deceased, but the wing would not shift. He looked back and saw the machine starting to burn just behind the pilot’s cockpit. He had never before flown at Rongotai. He took off in the same way as he saw Elliott come in. Most of his training had been done in that machine and he had flown before with a passenger and luggage. Stanley David Ross, aged 21, who saw the aeroplane as it was about to crash, said he was the first there. He saw the pilot climbing out and completed the task of releasing Elliott, who was strapped in and unconscious, just as the flames began to show. . The official inquiry is to be held on January 24.