18 KILLED IN CRASH

Southland Times, Issue 23649, 26 October 1938, Page 5

18 KILLED IN CRASH

AIRLINER HITS MOUNTAIN

MELBOURNE-ADELAIDE SERVICE

PROMINENT MEN AMONG VICTIMS (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received October 25, 10.40 p.m.) MELBOURNE, October 25. The Australian National Airways Douglas monoplane Kyeema crashed into Mount Dandenong, 28 miles from Melbourne, this afternoon. All the 18 persons aboard were killed.

The Kyeema was nearing the completion of its morning flight from Adelaide. Apparently it became lost in fog and mist and hit Mount Dandenong about 100 ft from the summit. It ploughed a deep path among the trees and then dropped, almost to the base of the mountain, in flames.

Four persons were thrown out, terribly injured, but identifiable. The remainder, trapped in the cabin, were burned beyond recognition.

Three women, including an air hostess, and a boy, were among the victims, also members of the National Insurance Commission returning from Western Australia, where it was inquiring into medical fees applicable to the health insurance plan. Another victim was a former Federal Minister of Commerce, Mr C. A. Hawker, of South Australia. The official list of the 18 dead is as follows:—

T. M. Hardy. Hugo Grant Sidney Hill Smith. C. A, Hawker. G. Ling. H. Gloc. Mrs H. Gloe. Vaughan Tate. Mrs E. Schraeder. Philip Pring, a boy. Captain A. Webb, the pilot A. Steen, the first officer. Miss Elva Jones, the air hostess. The members of the commission were: J. J. Massie. L. W. Shirley. G. H. Goddard. L. S. Abrahams, K.C. A. C. Gain.

Abrahams and Gain were among the leaders of the New South Wales Bar. They were associated in the protracted Court proceedings in Sydney and in London which determined the legality of broadcasting racing. Hardy, Grant and Smith were bound for Canberra to take part in the wine industry conference.

Tate and Mrs Schraeder were passengers from Adelaide. The Kyeema crashed at 1.45 p.m., 200 yards from the residence of Mr Eric Singleton, who heard the air liner overhead, but it was totally obscured by mist and fog. Almost immediately afterwards Mr Singleton heard the noise of the crash and an explosion. He and his wife ran to the scene, where a heart-rending sight confronted them. SHOCKING INJURIES / Another resident, Mr Reginald Lyons, was soon on the spot, but they were unable to give the slightest aid to the occupants of the burning aeroplane; the four who had been hurled from it were obviously dead, judging from their shocking injuries. Mr Lyons summoned the police, and doctors and ambulances. The Kyeema, which cost £30,000, was licensed to carry 15 passengers. It was to have been transferred to the Bris-bane-Townsville air service shortly, and a new Douglas D.C.2, at present being assembled, will replace it on the Adelaide-Melbourne-Sydney run. The pilot, Captain Webb, aged 31, was in the Royal Australian Air Force nine years and was three years with Australian National Airways. The first officer, Steen, was formerly an instructor at an aero club at Essendon. Miss Elva Jones, the air hostess, was 25; she lived at Toorak. The news of the accident caused a painful sensation in legal and political circles in the eastern states. The Prime Minister (Mr J. A. Lyons) informed the House of Representatives at Canberra today of the tragic news and announced the adjournment of Parliament until next Wednesday. He said that Mr Hawker would be accorded a State funeral.

Mr J. M. Cakebreak, of the Mount Dandenong observatory, states that he heard the Kyeema gliding, with its engines stopped, across the mountain in a cloud-bank. The pilot was apparently looking for a landing or seeking his bearings. Mr Cakebreak heard the crash, and he was among the first to arrive at the blazing aircraft. He is convinced that the whole 18 were killed instantly. The so-called commission actually comprised legal members representing the British Medical Association before a commission which visited Adelaide and Perth. Another legal delegate, Mr J. G. Hunter, travelled by train to Melbourne instead of in the ill-fated monoplane; he thus had a fortunate escape. Mr Hawker had intended to go to Canberra this afternoon in a private aeroplane.