FATAL AIR CRASH

Taranaki Daily News, 26 November 1934, Page 4

FATAL AIR CRASH

DEATH OF PASSENGER SOUTH ISLAND ACCIDENT HEAVY FOG NEAR TIMARU STORY OF EYE-WITNESSES PILOT SUFFERS BRUISES By Telegraph—Press Association. Timaru, Last Night. The passenger, Mr. W. H. Bailey, Dunedin, was killed when a Dunedin aeroplane, KZ-ACE crashed at St Andrew’s, 10 miles south-west of Timaru, at 9.30 o’clock yesterday morning. The pilot Mr. F. Taylor, suffered bruises. At the time a heavy fog was over St Andrew’s, apd the crash took place a mile west of the township when drizzling rain was falling. j It is thought the plane was endeavouring to find a landing place. It circled several times, evidently seeking a suitable ground, and came over a belt of trees. Apparently it came down in a spin, as the nose of the machine was deeply embedded in the ground. It came to rest close to a drain and within a few feet of a large deep pond. . The engine was forced back througn both cockpits, and the machine was extensively damaged. Mr. Bailey was dead when removed from the plane, having suffered severe injuries. His neck was broken, and a ( leg was practically tom off. Mr. Taylor s injuries included abrasions on the head which necessitated several stitches. He is at present in a private hospital. The farmer in whose paddock the plane crashed, Mr. L. A. O’Loughlin, said that he and several men were repairing his threshing mill in the yard when he saw the plane travelling south, apparently coming from the direction of Pareora. It was travelling at an altitude of about 200 feet, no doubt on account of the - fact that there was a thick drizzling rain at the time. PLANE CIRCLES TWICE. The plane circled twice in the vicinity of the farm and then went over the township. It circled back and went over a belt of trees near a house. The plane then appeared to dive down and struck the ground with a dull thud about 60 or 70 yards in front of the house. Mr. O’Loughlin said he and about six others rushed to the scene and pulled Mr. Taylor from his seat He was bleeding from a wound at the mouth and was dazed and suffering from shock. Mr Bailey was dead when they took him from the cockpit Another bystander remarked that apparently the machine when into a spin and came down. Mr. O’Loughlin’s story was corroborated in the main by one of his employees. The Rev. ’J. Hay also said he saw the machine circle over the paddock several times before it cama down. , Mr. Bailey was a married man aged 49. He was employed as chief auctioneer at Stronach and Morris, stock agents, and was well known as an amateur entertainer. . ‘ • The pilot, Mr. F. C. Taylor, is employed as an accountant by the Perpetual Trustees Co. He holds an endorsed A _ certificate. .. - RUSHED TO THE ACCIDENT: 1 - Mr. H. L. Patterson, president of the Otago Aero Club, and Flight-Lieutenant E. Olson, instructor to the club, landed at the Timaru airport from Christchurch and were rushed to the scene of the accident. They were on their way back to Dunedin from a conference of the New Zealand Aero Club at Wellington when word reached them of the disaster, which ... was the first the Dunedin club had had since 1930. . The pilot has had oyer 60 hours of solo flying experience and has made several cross-country flights. He was bound for Gisborne at the time of the disaster and he intended to land his passenger at Wellington. ■ - • Flight-Lieutenant Somerset Thomas, R.N.A.F., arrived from Christchurch by aeroplane and inspected the wrecked machine on behalf of the Director of Air Services, Squadron-Leader T. M. Wilkes He approved of its being dismantled, and work was commenced during the afternoon by representatives of New Zealand Airways Ltd. and the ground engineer of the Otago club. An inquest was opened on Saturday afternoon and after evidence of identification had been given it was adjourned sine die. An interesting feature of the ITght was that the unfortunate passenger kept a fog in which it is believed reference to the progress of the flight and to the weather almost up to the time of the accident were chronicled.