LOSS OF AIR LINER

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21216, 10 December 1938, Page 19

LOSS OF AIR LINER

FINDING OF INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE PILOT’S ERROR OF JUDGMENT United Press Association— By Electric Telegraph—Copyright CANBERRA, December 7. An error of observation by the pilot, Captain Webb, is held by the Air Accidents Investigation Committee to have caused the wreck of the air liner Kyeema, with a loss of 18 lives on October 25. The Committee says, however, that the error by the pilot would not have been made if the ultra-high frequency beacon, which was approved in March, 1937, had been operating on the day of the disaster. The Committee finds that the provision of adequate safety machinery was the responsibility of the Civil Aviation Board and it strongly condemns the board on this and other grounds. The Committee finds that the chief failure of the Civil Aviation Board was due to the fact that the Con-troller-General, Captain Johnston, deliberately and persistently set his face against decentralisation of the board. The report states: “The board was so constituted either as to personnel or to method of conducting its business as to be incapable of any decisive action.” One year’s delay in arranging for the beacon tests was due to the Civil Air Board and the Minister of Civil Aviation (Mr H. V. Thorby) who were each responsible for the six month's hold up. The report recommends a review of the Civil Aviation Administration and personnel, safety provision, the quick installation of radio beacons and the appointment of flight checking officers.