WING STRIKES SEA

Taranaki Daily News, 21 January 1935, Page 5

WING STRIKES SEA

CRASH OF MOTH PLANE DEATH OF PILOT RESULTS ATTEMPT TO REACH LAND HIS PASSENGER ESCAPES By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, Last Night. An aeroplane which was returning from Wellington to Christchurch yesterday afternoon came down in the sea near Waipara. The pilot, Mr. N. Roake, was drowned, but Mr. Cecil Haigh, the passenger, swam ashore unhurt. Both men were employees of Christchurch Cinemas, Ltd. Mr. Roake was the manager of the Regent Theatre and Mr. Haigh the manager of the Majestic Theatre. Mr. Roake leaves a widow and one child.

The weather was very thick and foggy and visibility was bad. Mr. Roake was flying close to the ground in an endeavour to keep the coastline in view. When the aeroplane was about seven miles north of the Waipara River the pilot suddenly caught sight of a cliff immediately in front. He swerved violently to the left and a wing touched the water. The machine overturned and plunged nose first - ito the sea.

Mr. and Mr. Haigh were both strapped in their seats, and both were under the surface of the water. They managed to struggle out of the cockpits and fight their way to the surface. Both floundered in the water, severely handicapped by their heavy and baggy flying costume, but each man found temporary relief in the detached wheels of their m ichine.

Mr. Haigh continued to float with the aid of his wheel, but Mr. Roake decided to make for the shore. He swam about 100 yards, visibly exhausted, and reached a rock, to which he clung until he was dashed off by the Sea. He must then have struck his head on the rock, for he disappeared. Mr. Haigh reached him in the end and succeeded in dragging him to the beach, but it was too late to save his life.

Mr. Haigh set off for assistance and walked for five hours over extremely rough and barren country before he reached the house of Mr. William Macintosh, eight miles from Waipara township. Mr. Haigh insisted on returning with a search party as soon as he arrived, but the searchers could find no trace of Mr. Roake until this morning. Th. body was brought in by pack-horse in mid-afternoon.

The aeroplane, a Moth owned by the Canterbury Aero Club, is completely wrecked and its position is so remote and inaccessible that no salvage will be possible. The tail projects a few feet above the,water at low tide.