AEROPLANE DISASTER.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 September 1926, Page 13

AEROPLANE DISASTER.

THREE PERSONS KILLED. THE FATAL NOSE DIVE. VICTIMS BADLY BURNED. By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. Received Sept. 3, 7.50 p.m. London, Sept. 3. A mysterious aeroplane crash occurred near Leatherhead, in Surrey. A small machine nose dived after circling and burst into flames. Two of the occupants, a man and a woman, were burned to death and another man was sent to hospital. It is believed that the machine was privately owned, and the names of the victims are not ascertainable. No regular air liner is missing. A later message states that the victims were Captain Leavey and a woman who has not been identified. The survivor was able to give his name as Arnold Keene, and that he was living in a village five miles from the scene of the crash. His condition is so serious that his wife has been summoned to his bedside. The body of the woman who was killed was burned beyond recognitnon. Cissie Gurr, who is living in a cottage near the scene of the accident, said: “The machine circled twice and then nose-dived. The petrol tank seemed to explode. I held up a wing of the ' machine while a spectator extricated Mr. Keene. His face was unrecognisable, all his clothing was burnt off, and he was groaning. The neighbours brought blankets, and the other two were dragged out dead.” Captain Leavey had been taking passengers for pleasure flights to Bognor. He was en route to the Crystal Palace to fulfil an engagement last night. • Received Sept. 3, 11.15 p.m. London, Sept. 3. Mr. Keene, the third victim' of the air smash, has succumbed.