LOSS OF IMPERIAL AIR ’PLANE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19959, 17 November 1934, Page 17

LOSS OF IMPERIAL AIR ’PLANE

REVELATIONS AT INQUIRY CHIEF PILOT NOT AT CONTROLS United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph - Copyright BRISBANE. November 16. The fact that Captain R. A. Prendergast was not in the control cabin at the time of the crash of the de Havilland biplane at Longreach yesterday was an important discovery at the preliminary investigations to-day. and this j is expected to enable the Air Accidents i Investigation Committee to determine the cause of the mishap. Captain Prendergast’s body, with that of Mr H. E. Broadfoot, the passenger, was found at the rear of the ’plane, and those of Mr W. V. Creastes. copilot and wireless-ope*ator, and Mr F. R. Charlton, engineer, in the pilots’ seats suggesting that a change-over of controls occurred before the machine went into a spin and hit the ground at 160 miles an hour, the figure at which the speed indicator had stopped. EXPERT REPORT PROBABLE CAUSE OF ACCIDENT Onlted Press Association —By Electric Telegraph —Copyright (Received November 16, 11.40 p.m.) SYDNEY. November 16. At Longreach Pilot Brain made an examination of the wrecked biplane. He gave as his opinion that the first officer Creastes, who was at the controls, tried to establish wireless communication, and in doing so the machine swung and, in an endeavour to correct the swing, it developed a. spiral and crashed. The funeral of the three British victims was held to-day. Mr Broadfoot’s widow, who had awaited the arrival of her husband at Brisbane till she learned of his fate yesterday, when she was prostrated with grief, returned to Sydney to-day in a New England Airways’ mail ’plane. NOTABLE AIRMAN KILLED SOUTH AFRICAN TRIBUTE United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph —Copyright (Received November 16. 11.40 p.m.) CAPETOWN. November 16. Flight-Lieutenant Prendergast, who was killed in the Longreach crash, had distinguished naval service during the war. He joined the Air Force in 1923 and was drafted to India. In the Afghanistan disturbances, following the dethronement of King Amanullah. Flight-Lieutenant Prendergast was •he first airman to rescue the civi who were forced to evacuate -...bi11. He made a number of flights to the Afghan capital and carried away refugees, and was complimented by the Viceroy and the Air Ministry. FOURTH MAIL PLANE HELD UP ENGINEER’S FINE RECORD United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, November 16. The fourth de Havilland biplane intended for the Brisbane-Singapore service is scheduled to fly from England next week. Arrangements are now held up, pending the receipt of details of the Longreach accident. Mr Charlton had been 10 years with Imperial Airways, Ltd., and had flown over 6000 hours. Yesterday was his wife’s birthday. She said the news was all the more terrible because she asked her husband not to go.