FLYING FATALITIES.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20504, 4 January 1935, Page 5

FLYING FATALITIES.

«*. Five Deaths in Dominion in 1934. SEVERAL SERIOUS CRASHES. Five flyers were killed in the four fatal aeroplane accidents that occurred in New Zealand last year, states the “ New Zealand Herald.” In the worst crash, both pilot and passenger were killed. Two lives were lost when a Moth aeroplane belonging to the Western Federated Aero Club crashed in the densely-wooded slopes of Mount Egmont on September 13. The victims were'Mr S. W. Green, aged 26, single, the pilot, and Mr J. A. Austin, a photographer. Both were New Plymouth residents. The president of the Auckland Aero Club. Mr E. R. Boucher, was killed, and the secretary, Mr L. W. Swan, was injured, when the club’s machine, ZKAAL, crashed in clouds and fog on a hill near Mount Ilawkins, not far from the entrance to Wellington Harbour, on March 17. Mr Boucher, the pilot, died early the following morning while being carried in a stretcher over extremely rough country to an ambulance. There were two flying fatalities in November. The first occurred on November 24, when an Otago Aero Club Moth crashed at St Andrews, near Timaru, while flying through a heavy fog. The passenger. Mr Howard Bailey, of Dunedin, was killed, but the pilot. Mr F. C. Taylor, suffered comparatively slight injuries. The most recent flying fatality occurred on November 28, during an aerial pageant at Te Aroha. Two machines, a Moth flown by Mr C. Waite, aged 29. married, of Te Aroha, and a Desoutter, flown by Mr S. J. Blackmore, of Hamilton, collided during a mock battle. The Moth crashed from about 1500 ft, and Mr Waite, who was captain of the Te Aroha Club, was killed instantly.