MISHAP TO AEROPLANE

Taranaki Daily News, 13 July 1933, Page 4

MISHAP TO AEROPLANE

N.P. NIGHT LANDING ..WEDDING GUESTS ON BOARD. DAMAGE TO UNDER-CARRIAGE. A rush’ flight from Hamilton with two wedding guests due at an evening ceremony at New Plymouth last night was terminated at the New Plymouth aerodrome after dark when Mr. S. Blackmore over-shot the line of waiting flares and his De Soutter monoplane rolled on through a boundary fence after landing Safely on the aerodrome. No one was injured, the machine was only slightly damaged and the passengers were only a quarter of an hour late for the ceremony. , , ~ The New Plymouth aerodrome stair was advised by telephone at 4.30 P-m--that Mr. Blackmore had left Hamilton and expected to arrive at 5.45 p.m.. “V which time darkness had fallen. Flares were arranged in the line of. landing when darkness fell and soon residents of the Urenui and Waitara districts were telephoning to say that an aeroplane could be heard passing overhead. Air. Blackmore was flying a trifle high .when he came in to land and, forgetting a boundary fence running in a direction over the ground, he landed off the line of flares and the machine rolled on through the fence, although, by that time its pace had slackened considerably. The fence wires were pulled down and the under-carriage and floor of the plane damaged. Two struts were broken and the machine thrown forward on its nose, the propellor being smashed. Fortunately the plane passed squarely between two stumps that remain of a row of pines that once lined the fence; otherwise the damage might have been moie. The monoplane was left out on the ground all night as it was too dark to ascertain the exact damage and inadvisable to expose a naked light. Mr. more said last night that he intended to repair the machine at New Plymouth but could not say how long the job would take as it might be necessary to send to Hamilton for spare Parts. The passengers were Mr. and Mrs. . Clarke, Te Aroha, and they were bound for the wedding of Mr. Clarkes brother, Mr. M. Clarke, and Miss B. Gay which was celebrated at St. Mary s Church, New Plymouth, last night. Mrs. Clarke changed from her travelling a - tire at the aerodrome club-house and they arrived at the wedding only a quarter of an hour late. Mr. Blackmore is a Hamilton garage proprietor and the . monoplane is a privately-owned machine.