AIR DISASTER

Taranaki Daily News, 27 February 1931, Page 8

AIR DISASTER

AMAZING EVIDENCE. STRUGGLE FOR CONTROLS. London, February 18. The most amazing story every told in connection with an air disaster was related in the Coroner’s Court to-day at Plymouth, at the inquest on the victims of the Iris flying-boat crash on February 4, -when nine lives were lost. »■ It was revealed that a tussle occurred for the controls just before the crash occurred, between Flight-Lieuten-ant Ely, the pilot-in-charge, and a superior offiefer, Wing-Commander Tucker, who was piloting the machine under supervision. ' . It was further revealed that a similar tussle had occurred previously between the same two officers, in consequence of which Tucker was ordered to abide by Ely’s instructions. Several of the crew had been overheard expressing a reluctance to go up in the boat if Tucker went up. Flight-Lieutenant Ely gave his evidence in hospital on a couch. He presented a pathetic figure,. grey-haired, wearing a strained expression, and unable to hold the Testament in his hands. His arms were in splints. Witness said that eight minutes before the crash Tucker, at his own request,. took control when the boat was approaching the landing. “I made an effort to regain control. Tucker at first shook his head. When we were finally coming down I placed my hand lightly on the wheel, ready for an emergency. He knocked my hand off. “When we were about 15ft. from the water instinct told me that a -crash was coming. Tucker, apparently, thought thought we were further from the water than -we really were. He pushed the control forward to descend further before he flattened out. -I immediately grabbed the control and pulled the nose back. The boat rose, but it was too late.”

Flight-Lieutenant Ely admitted that Tucker had landed several times safely, but he had no confidence in his ability to land. “Wing-Commander Tucker had previously reprimanded me for taking contr'l.”

The story of the previous incident was related by Squadron-Leader Jones. Ely, he said, had twice shown unwillingness to take Tucker up. He had complained that Tucket had attempted to land out of the wind. When Ely attempted to rectify the error Tucker tried to knock his’hands away. “Tucker complained to me of Ely’s attitude. I supported Ely, as the flying-boat’s first flying officer.

Tucker was a promising pilot, but thought himself a better pilot than he was.”

The jury returned a verdict that the disaster was due to Wing-Commander Tucker’s error of judgment in retaining control against Flight-Lieutenant Ely’s wishes, and recommended that commanders be trained at other stations than those to which they are appointed. The coroner pointed, out that Tucker was 44 years old when sent to serve in seaplanes, and expressed the opinion that it would have been apparently more sensible to keep him in land machines.