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Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 59, Issue 4186, 15 September 1939, Page 7

After making a forced landing at Ngakuru, 20 miles from Rotorua on Tuesday while on a flight from Napier to Hamilton, Mr C. Crowe, a Hamilton pilot, landed his Gipsy Moth aeroplane safely at Rukuhia aerodrome on Wednesday. Mr Crowe, who was accompanied by his mother, ran into strong, winds during the flight from Napier and later encountered a severe storm while passing over Ngakuru. Visibility was very poor and darkness was approaching, so’ the pilot decided to look for an emergency landing ground and eventually made a “pancake” landing in a paddock on Mr P. Willoughby’s farm at Ngakuru. Although the field was rough Mr Crowe brought the machine down without causing any damage, demonstrating considerable ability and daring. The field in which the machine landed provided a runway of only 3*70 with a sudden drop at one end. However, the take-off next morning was effected without difficulty and the flight to Hamilton continued. Mr Crowe and his mother were provided with shelter for the night by Mr Willoughby.