TWO DEAD IN AIR CRASH

Taranaki Daily News, 15 September 1934, Page 9

TWO DEAD IN AIR CRASH

MACHINE WRECKED IN RANGES DISCOVERY BY SEARCH PARTIES TERRIFIC IMPACT WITH TREE Scattered by the terrific force of the crash, the wreckage of the ill-fated ZK-ABS, the plane missing, from New Plymouth airport since 2 o’clock on Thursday afternoon, was found by a party of searchers at 10.30 o’clock yesterday morning. Under the wreckage of a portion of the fusilage were the bodies of the occupants, Messrs. James Austin, photographer, and S. W. Green, pilot, both well-known New Plymouth men. So completely wrecked was the plane that it is doubtful if aerial search would ever have located it. Fragments of the framework, fusilage fabric, petrol tank and engine were scattered over a radius of 50 yards. A portion of one wing was attached to a tall sapling 70 yards from where the engine lay a few feet from the bodies of the flyers. Tattered strips of wing and body fabric hung from a huge rata against which the machine had dashed itself to pieces. The casing of the engine was shattered by the force of the impact and lay 40 feet from the large tree which had had its limbs lopped. From the terrific effect of the crash, it seemed probable that the plane had dived at a high speed and that the pilot had been unable to pull the nose up in time to clear the treetops. The bodies of Messrs. Austin and Green were recognisable only by their clothing, and it is apparent that they met their death instantly. They lay under a shattered portion of the overturned fusilage beneath front and rear cockpits. Pending investigation by experts, no theory can be advanced as to the cause of the accident.

SCENE IN WILD COUNTRY

WRECK HIGH ON RANGES

ACCURACY OF GUIDANCE

The locality, in which the plane came to earth is heavily timbered and accessible only under expert guidance. It is broken by steep gorges and tangled with supplejack. The wreckage lies 200 yards above a small tributary of the Kauauai River on its western side, at a point about three miles from the radius line. It is almost exactly at the point indicated in the photograph published in yesterday’s issue of the Daily News. The distance from the crest of the range at that point is roughly 1000 feet and the accident occurred at an altitude of 3000 feet. The discovery of wreckage was made by a party comprising Messrs. J. W. Cash and E. Clerke, who saw it simultaneously, and Messrs. T. Robinson and Arthur, with Constable A. C. Davis, New Plymouth. So exact had been the information supplied by the trappers who had heard the crash on the previous afternoon, Mr. R. Burrows and his son, that three independent parties of searchers were converging to the one point when the discovery was made, and 30 men were at the scene within 10 minutes. When it was realised that nothing could be done for the unfortunate fliers, immediate preparations under the supervision of Drs. P. H. Gray and T. Thorpe, who were with one party, were made for removal of . the bodies to Kaimiro, and at 11.50 the exhausting task was begun. Shortly before 4 o’clock the farthest point to which motor-cars could penetrate was reached, with many of the rescue party at the limit of endurance. They were met by members of the New Plymouth Aero Club and others and arrangements were made to bring the bodies to New Plymouth. ,

POSSIBILITY OF FAINTING

EVIDENCE OF HIGH SPEED MACHINE DISMEMBERED For violence of impact the crash was probably the worst in the history of aviation in New Zealand, according to the opinion of an expert. The machine must have met the earth'at an extremely high speed to account for the completeness of its destruction. Usually a crashed aeroplane retains some semblance of its normal shape, but on this occasion dismemberment was tragically thorough. Parts were tom, broken and widely scattered, and at first glance there did not appear to be one section left intact. The cause of the accident will be sought by expert investigators, and even their conclusions may not establish it. indisputably. It does appear from the circumstances, however, that there is a strong possibility Mr. Green-fainted at the controls when flying at a high altitude. He had flown over the mountain 12 times before, and the evidence seems to preclude the suggestion that there was an error of judgment or any lack of skill.

It is known that before leaving Bell Block Mr. Green expressed the intention of flying to a' height of between 12,000 and 15,000 feet. The intensity of the cold and the rarified atmosphere in that region would tend to have a numbing effect on the aviators. It is thought probable, therefore, that Mr. Green lost consciousness, allowing the machine to fall out of control.

Squadron-Leader L. M. Isitt, representing the Director of Air Services, arrived at New Plymouth yesterday to make preliminary investigations. Accompanied by Flying-Officer lan Keith, Mr. Rod Syme, of the Mt. Egmont Alpine Club, and others, Squadron-Leader Isitt will visit the scene. of the fatality this morning to make an inspection and decide the possibilities of salvaging.