MISHAP TO ZK—ABE.

Wairarapa Age, 24 December 1932, Page 5

MISHAP TO ZK—ABE.

FORCED LANDING IN COASTAL FLIGHT.

Misfortune overtook the Wairarapa Aero Club’s ’plane ZK—ABE, when it made a forced landing at the seaward, end of the Orongorongo Valley early last evening. Travelling alone, FlyingOfficei- J. M. Buckeridge was on his way from Masterton to Wellington, whence he was to proceed to Palmerston North, to carry the Christmas air mail from that town to Invercargill today. On account of thick and hazyweather, Flying-Officer Buckeridge ehose the coastal route. AU went well until he l reached the Orongorongo Valley. There, it is stated, engine trouble compelled him, at 5 p.m., to make' a forced landing. He alighted on a small plateau on Mr. Eric Riddiford’s property. The machine suffered some structural damage, but Flying-Officer Buckeridge escaped injury. It was reported last night from Wellington that arrangements had been made to carry on with the air mail flights, but details of the new arrangements were not given. The president of the Wairarapa Aero Club, Mr. W. L. Free, said last evening that he thought it probable that Flying-Officer Buckeridge would carry mails to Invercargill to-day in the club’s other machine, ZK—ACD. Originally one of the club’s machines was to have made a mail flight from Palmerston North to Auckland and tho other was to have taken mails from Palmerston North to Invercargill. According to the Wellington report mentioned, ZK—ABE was not seriously damaged.