THE AEROPLANE CRASH.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 19 March 1926, Page 4

THE AEROPLANE CRASH.

PLANE PASSED AS AIRWORTHY. By Telegraph—Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, March 18. The aeroplane .that crashed at Papanui on Wednesday eve.ning was examined before the flight by ai sergcant-nieehanio and passed as airworthy. Tho actual cause of the crush is unknown, but a thorough inquiry will bo held. THE FATAL LOOP. DESCRIPTION RY EYE-WITNESS. By Talegraph—Proas Association CHRISTCHURCH, March 18. A graphic description or tne accident was given to a representative of "The Press'' by Leonard Lane, aged 10 years, who Jives at the Orphanage. He had just returned from worn, and was standing near the hack door, a lew yards from the glasshouse, watching the machine'looping the loop and stunting over the Methodist Church, a short 1 distance towards the south-east. . *...

The Orphanage itself is at the corner of Haro wood 'road and Chapei street. The Jad was struck with the low altitude at which the evolutions were being performed, and after tho machine hud corkscrewed once or twice it reached a point directly over the Orphanage. It looped tho loop once and “flattened.’', The machine then ascended sharply, and immediately dived straight down. Midway to earth, when he was wondering whether room would be left to “flatten,’’ the aeroplane turned partly round, but ■ its downward rush continued, and-it struck tho earth a ; resounding crash, collapsing into a shapeless and tangled heap of wood and other material. Lane rushed over and lifted Captain Horrell’s head, but perceived he was dead. Lieutenant Turner and Reid had been sitting together at the back, and the straps on the latter were broken, wlido his 'head lay on the ground. His injuries were terrible, and later lie died on his way to the Hospital. Lieutenant Turner iwas soon lifted from his position by people who arrived, quickly on the scene, and he was able to remove his crash liehnet and tell them his name.

Dr. P. Stanley Foster tended Lieutenant Turner and Reid. Both the latter and Captain Horrell had suffered terrible head injuries, the pilot having also both legs broken. Captain Horrell’s body was taken inside the Orphanage, and was later conveyed to the City by the amlm> lance. Three trips were made by. tfie ambulance, which contained only orie : stretcher. v-:.

Len Lane and Hilda Woods, ■. two children at the Orphanage, were in the grounds at the institution at the time of the crash.

The lad, a bright youngster of 16 years, was the first to reach the unfortunate men.

“He tried to do what he could,” as the Matron of the Orphanage put it,” hut he found his boyish strength was not equal to the task of extricating the men from the wreckage.” These" Two" children were 1 the oues who witnessed the actual crash, and the grim tragedy of that temblor; dive shocked their, young mind? beyond* words. They saw the aeroplane whizz*' down over the orphanage. I'or a iiioijient'that seemed a lifetime, 'they;;; watched .machine in its raeteofic * descent. Tile sight and crash caused'the little girl to clap her 'hands to her ears, and call hysterically for help, but the lad ran to tho aeroplane to help the injured. . .

FURTHER DETAILS. By Telegraph—Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH,; March 18. A breuadtiwn gang, in overalls, lroni the Aerodrome--removed parts .01 the wreckage, including the wings and tail, from toe spot where the aeroplane crashed to a vacant space several yards away, and in the darkness souvenir hunters tore off pieces of. wood and canvas. Large numbers examined the wrecked machine, many arriving in motor cars, but at 9 p.lll. tile Orphan-' age gutes were closed. The engine is apparently intact, but the bottom portion of the mass is buried several inches deep in the ground. Air W. E. Jones, manager of the Orphanage, and Mrs Jones rang up the police, 'hospital, Dr. Brown, and the fcjockbuvn Aerodrome. Captain J. L. Findlay, arrived within had an hour and identified the two ofheebs. Reid was known to a number of the residents who had arrived early. Everything possible was done by Air and Airs Jones-j and the staff of the Orphanage, who were naturally much shocked by the occurrence. A motorist who was watching the stunts was so surprised at the low altitude at which these were being performed that he stopped liis car. The machine was up in the morning when Captain Horrell is stated to have flown over Kangiorn.

Captain Horrell went into training at Sockburn Aerodrome on tho 9th nist. To-day completes the course • for the batch of officers, of which ho': was a member. : Lieutenant Turner alto commenced liis refresher course on the 9th. His .wife arrived from Ashburton at about 10 o’clock last night.

NATIVE OF DUNEDIN. By Telegraph—'Press Association DUNEDIN, Afarch .18. ' Thoittas -L. Reed, 011© pf these; who was" killed' in the air crash,-. wuiS ’ 22< years o|- age in® was the son ui Air .\yilliam Reid, Erin Street, Roslyn. lie was' single. His parents proceeded to Christchurch to-day. INQUEST OPENED. Br Telegraph—Press Associativa. CHRISTCHURCH, Alareh 18. The inquest on Captain Horrell ami T. L. lleid opened this morning at the hospital. Captain Findlay, officer in command at the Wigram Aerodrome,, gavo evidence of 'identification. AViiliam Edward Horrell said bis brother visited Rangiora at 3.80 p.m. yesterday, to attend the funeral of Ins uncle, and was then returning to the drome to fulfil an engagement. His brother was an experienced pilot. He had been injured in lighting on Gallipoli. The inquest was adjourned sine die.