THE AEROPLANE FATALITY

Taranaki Daily News, 31 January 1933, Page 6

THE AEROPLANE FATALITY

NQUEST OPENED AT OPUNAKE

EVIDENCE OF VICTIM’S FATHER. REMOVAL OF PLANE FROM SCENE. ALLEGED CONTRAVENTION OF ACT. An inquest concerning the death of Richard Guy Putt, aged. 18, who .was killed in the aeroplane crash at Pihama on Sunday afternoon, was opened at Opunake yesterday before the district coroner, Mr. R. S. Sage, Hawera. After medical evidence and formal evidence as to identification was taken the inquest was adjourned sine die. Prior to adjourning the inquest the coroner said he was sorry to state that the removal of the aeroplane from where the accident occurred was contrary to. the Aerial Navigation Act, and he would have to report it. , Dr. Thomas H. Thorpe, J&aponga, stated that when on the Opunake beach, he received a call about 5.15 p.m. on Sunday to go to Mr. Stewart Forsyth’s residence, Patiki. Road, Pihama. He found the body of Putt lying beside a wrecked aeroplane. Life was extinct. Putt had very bad head injuries. The neck appeared to be dislocated and there were bruises on the body. The doctor surmised the body had been shifted before he saw it as it was lying face up., The base of the skull Aims, fractured. The lower jawx was fractured and the upper jaw broken. Dr. Thorpe found considerable bloodstains in the aeroplane cockpit and rear of the engine. The pitot, Brian Davies, aged 18, was suffering from severe injuries and wounds on the body. The doctor did not distinguish any broken bones. Davies was conscious but not capable of making a statement at that time owing to severe nervous shock. The patient was removed to hospital. . Edgar Richard Putt, farmer, Otakeho, gave evidence of identification of his son. His son was 18 years of age and worked on their farm. He left home about 10 a.m. on Sunday morning. Witness was not aware that Guy was making a flight that day until after his son left home. Davies was a friend of his son. The Forsyths were friends of the two boys, and that would account for their being in the vicinity of Forsyth’s. Putt saw the aeroplane flying over his house and the fliers signalled to them on the flat. . The inquest will be resumed, it is expected, when Brian Davies has recovered sufficiently to give evidence. Probably an aeronautical inquiry will be held.

The Hawera hospital reported yesterday’ that Davies’ condition had improved. He is recovering from concussion. Other -injuries include a deep cut about four inches long on the forehead and ■ a broken nose.. There is no sign of internal injuries. With reference to the coroner’s coqiment it has been ascertained that .under the Air Navigation Act of 1931 the Gov-ernor-General by Order-in-Council 'is authorised to make regulations preventing the removal of a plane from the scene of an accident until ' investigations have been made. It is understood that only the authority to make such regulations is conferred by the Act referred to. One legal authority said he knew of no regulation of such a nature having been made. It is understood that the damaged machine is now at the New Plymouth Aero Club’s hangar and no attempt will be made to repair it until an official inspection has been made,