WAIHO PLANE TRAGEDY

Taranaki Daily News, 22 June 1935, Page 9

WAIHO PLANE TRAGEDY

EXPERTS GIVE EVIDENCE

EXAMINATION OF THE MACHINE.

NO EXPLANATION OF THE CAUSE. description BY -eye-witnesses. By Telegraph—Press Association. Hokitika, Last Night. The pilot of yesterday’s aeroplane tragedy at Waiho, Mr. Harold Lawn, is now in the Westland hospital suffering from shock and severe burns to the head, face and neck.'. Though the injuries are considerable his condition is not serious. Eye-witnesses report that the aeroplane circled round the landing ground,. swung along the runway at a low. altitude, and then climbed and came back towards the landing place, when it banked to turn and seemed, to slip sideways towards the ground. Just before'it struck the ground the machine straightened, and at this moment the engine appeared to accelerate. Then the plane crashed, the. left wing striking a fence a quarter of a mile from the landing ground. Smoke came from the tail and flames enveloped the whole plahe. The engine did not stop till the crash. When helpers arrived the tail was in the normal position on the ground, The pilot, with his clothes afire, had climbed out and was attempting to rescue the passenger. As the plane was totally enveloped in flames nothing could be done to extricate the body until some time afterwards. The inquest was reopened this afternoon to take the evidence of Wigram officials. Flight-Lieutenant Somerset Thomas, Royal New Zealand Air Force, said he saw the remains of the aeroplane, which was destroyed by fire, except for the iron work. Only one wheel was left. He also saw the body, which had been removed. In his opinion, death must have been instant.. ■ • CONTROLS STILL INTACT. Frederick William Thornton, leading aircraftsman at Wigram Aerodrome, said he examined the remains of the machine and found the elevator and rudder controls still intact, though hoisted, no pins having become unfastened. One mterplane strut was still intact. The greater part of the engine had melted away, ana the remainder was a mass of twisted ironwork. Nothing was left of the wings or woodwork and there was nothing to show whether the aileron control was in order at the time of the crash, or otherwise. He could not say what the cause of the accident might be. The remains of Mrs. Newman are being brought to Hokitika*. An inquest wafe formally opened at the Westland hospital for identification purposes and was adjourned. ' ™ A Flight-Lieutenant Somerset Thomas, who flew. from. Christehurch yesterday afternoon, after landing at Hokitika, went on to Waiho and landed at Condon’s paddock, two miles from the'Waiho landing ground, making a good landing. The inspector of the Civil Aviation Department examined the scene of the teagedy and the landing ground A departmental inquiry will, be held at Efokitika later. i. ■??■... .