LOSS OF AIRLINER

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21178, 27 October 1938, Page 7

LOSS OF AIRLINER

MOUNTAIN CRASH AT HIGH SPEED Radio Beacon Out of Action Demand for Searching InquiryNew Zealand’s Sympathy Expressed United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright MELBOURNE, October 26. It is estimated that the Australian National Airways liner Kyeema, which struck the mountain side with the loss of eighteen occupants, crashed while travelling at 200 miles an hour. The plane had flown 30 miles past the Essendon aerodrome and was off her course. Two of the victims, Mr and Mrs H. Gloe, were flying to Tasmania on their honeymoon. Since the beginning of 1934, 115 lives have been lost in civil aviation in Australia and 50 of these victims were killed in disasters to air liners. The others were killed in accidents to private planes. One of the most disturbing aspects of the Kyeema disaster is the fact that the Lorenz short-wave radio navigation beacon, which has been installed at Essendon aerodrome for more than a year, was not, and never has been, in operation because the Civil Aviation Department has not completed the necessary final tests and adjustments.

The Federal Minister of Civil Aviation (Mr H. V. Thorby) has announced that a public inquiry will be held by the Air Accidents Investigation Committee into the crash. This is the first time that the Government has agreed to have an investigation into the cause of an accident mads in public. Mr Thorby has also called or an Immediate report about the short-wave radio navigation beacon which has never been operated He added: "If I have to bear any of the responsibility I will not shirk it.” HAS SOMEONE BLUNDERED? BEACON STATION OUT OF ACTION United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received October 26, 10.35 p.m.) SYDNEY, October 26. The newspapers are publishing severe criticism of the Federal authorities responsible for the non-function-ing of the Lorenz beacon which, if working, would, it is claimed, assuredly have saved the Kyeema and eighteen lives from disaster. Mr G. A. Robinson, managing director of the Airlines of Australia, to-day revealed that the pilots had actually brought airliners home to Mascot from Adelaide and Brisbane on the Lorenz beacon, and voted it 100 per cent efficient, but after that experiment it had been switched off, apparently to aid the Civil Aviation Department’s own official tests, in its own time. Mr K. M. Fremin. president of the Institute of Air Pilots, said: "We know what caused the accident. What we want is an inquiry into the policy and administration which made an accident of this kind not only possible, but likely to occur again at any time. DIFFICULT IDENTIFICATION STATE FUNERAL DECLINED United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph —Copyright (Received October 26, 10.35 p.m.) MELBOURNE, October 26. Identification of the eighteen bodies of the Kyeema disaster began to-day at Melbourne morgue, and considerable difficulty as experienced in identifying at least five. Mr Hawker’s relatives have declined a State funeral. The remnants of the air liner were completely burned to-day by police in order to remove all trace from the crowds. The Kyeema was insured for £25,000. MESSAGES OF SYMPATHY NEW ZEALAND’S DEEP SORROW United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright WELLINGTON, October 25. The sympathy of New Zealand with the relatives of those who lost their lives in the aviation accident near Melbourne on Tuesday, was expressed to-day by the Prime Minister (Mr Savage). The following cable message Was sent by Mr Savage to ths Prime Minister of Australia (Mr Lyons): “On behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand. I desire to express deep sorrow at the severe loss of life, resulting from the air liner disaster. We extend our sincere sympathy to you personally in the death of your former colleague (Mr Hawker), and also to the relatives of all the passengers and crew.”