OUT OF CONTROL

Stratford Evening Post, Volume I, Issue 76, 9 March 1931, Page 5

OUT OF CONTROL

EXCITEMENT AT WELLINGTON CAREER ENDS IN CAPSIZE Press Association. —Copyright. WELLINGTON, This Day. Careering around Rongotai Airport without a pilot, yesterday morning, a machine finished up by turning over and lying on its hack. It was a Gipsy Moth belonging to the Western Federated Flying Club, New Ply-, mouth. About 11.30 a.m., a pupil prepared to start the machine. He swung the propeller, with the throttle wide open. With a roar the engine started, and the machine lurched forward. The man who had started it, immediately threw himself flat upon the ground, and the wing of the machine passed above him. Gathering speed, the machine raced ahead 1 , then swerved, went upon a curving course, and then tipped up. The machine went completely over, breaking the propeller, and lay upon its back. The damaged machine was carried into the hangar, jvhere it was found to have suffered, in addition to the smashed propeller, damage to the wings and fin. The full extent of the damage is not yet kho"wn, but there is a possibility of a fracture somewhere in the fuselage. The machine, which is registered as ZK—ABS, was used by the club when it commenced active operations last year. The machine had been at Blenheim for the Marlborough Aero Club's pageant on Saturday, and had reached Wellington on the return trip.