AIR-CRASH INQUIRY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21184, 3 November 1938, Page 11

AIR-CRASH INQUIRY

ABSENCE OF RADIO BEACON A CAUSE United Press Association—By Electric . Telegraph—Copyright (Received November 2, 11.35 a.m.) I'ELBOURNE, November 2. “The cause of the Kyeetna disaster was an error of judgment of the pilot, but the accident would not have occurred had the radio beacon been in operation," was the statement made Captain L. M. Diprose, Flight Superintendent of Australian National Airways, to the Air Accidents Investigation Committee to-day. Captain Diprose said he did not think the weather conditions caused difficulty, because it was not too bad a day at Essendon for landing. Captain Diprose said that one Australian National Airways ’plane had had beacon equipment, but it had been removed. The equipment could be installed again in a few days. He was unable to say when they would get equipment for all ’planes. “Pilot Webb had always been an exceptionally reliable, careful and efficient officer,” said Captain Diprose. In his opinion the accident was due to an error of judgment. He thought that pilots had too many logs to make up. He added that he did not think such a disaster was likely to recur. Wilfred Edgar Launder Cridge. a radio officer at Essendon, said that he was on duty on the day of the crash. He knew the voices of the pilots. Cadet Pring was sending messages from Kyeema practically throughout the whole trip and gave a message when the ’plane was passing Daylesford at 7,000 ft. Then he heard Captain Webb in the background say “Ask Bill for the weather.” There was some hesitation and Webb took the microphone and asked for the weather. Witness gave the last report available at 1 p.m. and noticing a break in the clouds informed Webb. Webb acknowledged the information and said: “May I borrow a bearing from you later. We are about to enter into overcast conditions which is about 400 ft. Witness said he had to operate direction finding equipment when the pilots sought bearings. It took about one and a half minutes to give a bearing. The inquiry adjourned till to-morrow.