AEROPLANE CRASH

Taranaki Daily News, 8 September 1930, Page 3

AEROPLANE CRASH

FLYING OVER A WARSHIP. Flying round H.M.A.S. Albatross while the warship was proceeding down the Brisbane River on August 19, a Moth aeroplane, piloted by Mr. T. Urquhart, with Mr. W. N. M. Duff as passenger, crashed into the water. Mr. Duff was trapped in the wreckage of the aeroplane and. was drowned, while the pilot escaped with cuts on the head. The irfeident occurred when the warship was about half-a-milc off the Pinkenba Wharf. About four o’clock the Moth aeroplane was seen approaching the ship, flying at a height of about 300 feet. As the aeroplane drew nearer it lost altitude and banked round, and then niadc a circuit of the ship. It was quite easy to see the lettering and nameplate. 1 The pilot leant over the side to wave to spme of the company, and as the /machine passed he was recognised. “That’s Trudy Urquhart,” one of the officers stated. The passenger sitting in the front seat of the machine also waved and was recognised. Bojrii men had that morning lunched on board, the warship. The aeroplane again approached the ship, this time flying rather low, and on the' completion of the second circuit it was about 20 feet above the surface of the water, lower than the deck of the ship. Making a left-hand bank, the aeroplane turned and swooped round, the stern straightening up. It was apparent that the machine was in a dangerous plight. It was only 20 feet above the water and appeared even then to be losing what little height it had. Apparently not realising his predicament, the pilot tried to swing the machine across the bows. The close proximity of the Moth to the water, however, defeated his effort. “He’s going to crash,” shouted one of the men on the quarterdeck. Immediately the tip of the left wing touched the water, and with a tremendous crash that could be heard half a mile away the aeroplane hit the water. Through the clouds of £pray that rose could be seen the smashed right wing, heeling over while the fuselage sank. In a few minutes all that was showing was the tailpiece of the machine andsplintered pieces of wood, wrenbhed and twisted. The Albatross’ starboard cutter was immediately launched. Then the head of the pilot showed above the water. Mr. Urquhart was conscious, and climbed on to the tail, with blood from a cut on his head streaming down his face. Un reaching the wrecked machine one of the ratings from the Albatross doffed his jacket and dived overboard in an attempt to extricate Mr. Duff from the | cabin, where he was trapped. It was soon seen that the smashed cabin, coupled with the imprisoning effect of the straps, made rescue impossible. Mr. Urquhart was taken aboard the cutter and, with the wrecked aeroplane in tow, the boat made for the Albatross, who. i Mr. Urquhart was given medical attention. Meanwhile the wreckage was cut away from the Moth and Mr. Duff's | body was released. Resuscitation work I proved unavailing, and the body was * taken to Brisbane. Mr. Urquhart was | coneveycd to hospital. j Both men were well known in Brisbane. Mr. Duff was 29 years of age. |