CRASH ON HILL-TOP

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 81, 6 April 1934, Page 6

CRASH ON HILL-TOP

jMR. E. R. BOUCHER’S DEATH WELLINGTON AIR TRAGEDY LVIDIACE AT IXQ'FESL' WELLINGTON, April 5. A graphic story describing the aeropiano tragedy which ocaured on March 17, wnen an Auckland machine was wrecked on the steep eastern face of Mount Hawkins, | about four miles inland up the Red Rocks creek from the Cook Strait coastline, was told by the surviving occupant, Mr. L. W. Swan, secretary of the Auckland Aero Club, at an inquest held at the Wellington Hospital to-day on the pilot of the machine, Mr. Ernest Robert Boucher, president of the Auckland Aero Club, who died from his injuries while being brought into the city. A verdict of accidental death was returned by the coroner (Mr. G. Gilbertson, J.P.). The inquest was conducted by SubInspector Martin. Wilfred Alexander Lean, a Free Ambulance driver, said that when he arrived at the scene of the crash about 8 p.m. it was almost dark. Some other members of the search party had arrived on the scene some time previously. Tho deceased was still alive and was lying under the wrecked machine in a precarious position, there being a steep bank immediately below him. There was a fair breeze blowing, and he was in danger of having the aeroplane blown over on top of him. Members of the party accordingly placed him on a stretcher and carried him to the top of the hill. Boucher was severely injured and- in a semiconscious condition. He complained of his back and shoulders being injured, and remarked that he had a severe pain in the back, but no feeling elsewhere. Both legs were apparently paralysed, aud his arms also appeared io bo paralysed. There was no doctor on the spot, and a man was dispatched for medical assistance and lights. In the meantime it was decided to carry the deceased until they met the doctor. Before leaving witness gave him a drink of brandy. He was then in a very low condition and did not speak after leaving the hilltop. He appeared to bo unconscious when witness next examined him. Fairly frequent stops were made, and witness examined Boucher each time, but did not notice any change in his condition. When they met the doctor some seven hours later the body was still warm. Witness did not know when death occurred. Free Ambulance men were not permitted to administer drugs to patients. Cause of Death Dr. M. M. Mcßae said he had known tho deceased since 1920, and knew him as a mechanician of considerable knowledge and a keen aviator who took an intelligent interest in aeronautics generally. With Dr. Childs he examined the body at Fitchett’s Farm, Brooklyn, at about 3 a.m. on March 18, and found death to have been due to fracture of the spine and a fracture of the skull. Death had probably occurred some four or five hours before witness saw tho body. Tho coroner asked whether the deceased’s recollection of what had happened would be likely to be affected as a result of his injuries. The witness replied that in view of the lapse of time after the accident the deceased’s information concerning the smash would probably be very unreliable. “My experience of fractures of the spine is that shock and confusion ensue very early,” he added. Search for Aeroplane Roy Muipby, a mechanic at the Rongotai Aerodrome, said that he was present when the deceased and his companion left the aerodrome at about 8.30 a.m. on March 17. The sky overhead was clear, but there was a bank of clouds at about 500 ft. over Cook Strait and the Terawhiti Hills. The general conditions for flying were good. Before the aeroplane left witness telephoned to Nelson and received a favourable weather report. He then informed Nelson of the machine’s departure. About 10.30 a.m. he was advised, that the aeroplane had. not arrived. A search was then made by air, but owing to the low-lying clouds on top of Mount Hawkins the wrecked aeroplane was not seen. Witness was a member of the search, party which reached the scene of the crush on foot. They found the deceased lying under one of the wings. His speech was rather difficult to follow. He said that he had becu travelling up the valley and making tor a hole in the clouds, but the clouds closed in on him. He then made a left-hand turn with the intention of getting out of the valley, but the wind caught the machine and drifted it into tiie side of the hill. Witness added that the aeroplane had struck the eastern face of Mount Hawkins about 75ft. to 100 ft. below the summit of a ridge. It was completely wrecked and appeared to have dragged along tho side of the ridge for at least 50ft. The trip to Fitchett’s farm with the deceased lying on a stretcher took about seven hours. The deceased had been a regular visitor to Kongotai, and had used an aeroplane o:i business trips throughout tho Dominion. He had crossed Cook Strait a number of times. It was a generally-recognised rule in flying that aeroplanes should keep below the clouds. The usual route from Wellington to Nelson was via Makara. Tn witness’ opinion tho accident was duo to low-lying clouds. ‘ ‘ Error of Juclgment ’ ’ The coroner: Would you have started for Nelson with clouds like Witness: 1 think it. was quite safe, provided he did not; go near the hills. Flying in clouds is left to the pilot's discretion. You cannot Jay down any rules for flying across Cook Strait. You must go up and figure out for yourself whether it is safe to go across. The coroner asked whether it would have been safer to go round the coastline. Witne.-s: Yes. If you are on lliu coastline you ca.i keep underneath the clouds am* sec ®’::d and follow the coast round. The coroner: Tho accident would not be due to any defects in the machine? •’No, it. was an error of judgment,” replied the witness, who added that

tiie accident appeared to have been a lepctition of tho crash on the hills near Porirua. Apparently the deceased was trying to get over the hills underneath the clouds when they closed in on him, and in trying to turn ho hit tho hill. Tho coroner commented that the machine had hit the highest hill in tho vicinity. Survivor’s Evidence Thu survivor of tiie crash, Leonard Wesley Swan, said that he was the holder of an A license and bad completed 105 hours’ flying. He and the deceased left Bongotai at about 8.30 a.m., flying in a westerly direction around the coast, but climbing steadily. Low clouds were drifting in from the sea from a south-easterly direction, aud flying- conditions were fair. “About five or six minutes after leaving tho aerodrome we entered the clouds,” witness continued. “I do not know exactly at what altitude we would bo flying, but 1 should say approximately 1000 ft. at least. The clouds were thick aud visibility bad. About live minutes after entering the clouds the aeroplane crashed into the side of the hill. Just before the impact 1 saw what I took to be a dark cloud. I gather now this must have been the ground. I did not see any sign of tiro ground from the time we entered the clouds until we crashed. 1 gathered from tho appearance of the aeroplane afterwards that the left wing tip first hit the ground. Machine in a Dive “A low minutes before the crash I noticed that tho air speed was between 10U and 110 miles an hour. The ordinary cruising speed is about 70 miles an hour. With the throttle full open the aeroplane would do about 95 miles an hour. The speed of 100 to 110 miles an hour would indicate that the aeroplane was in a dive. 1 do not know the reason for the dive, nor whether the machine was still in the dive at the moment of impact. The machine was completely wrecked. 1 found that wo were both unconscious for some time after the crash. When I recovered tho deceased was lying amongst some wreckage. IJe was severely injured and unable to move. Ho told me that he had been flying at 2500 ft. “1 do not know whether it would have been possible that morning to have flown under the clouds by following tho coastline all tho way. After recovering consciousness I made the deceased as comfortable as possible, and then climbed on to tho hilltops and shouted for assistance. When assistance did not arrive by noon we decided that I should go for help. I made down towards the coast, which I reached at about 4 p.m., and where I was met by some searchers and directed them 1 o tho wrecked machine. ’ ’ Witness said that obviously Boucher could not have boon flying at 2500 ft. when the machine crashed. The vicinity was very steep, and he crawled on his hands and knees most of the way up to the hilltops. His idea was to get to the highest point so that his voice would carry. When ho set out ho did not know that the accident had occurred in such an isolated spot. Justified in Starting In answer to the coroner, witness said that ho considered it was quite reasonable to fly on that particular day. Weather conditions were quite suitable, and tho Nelson reports were favourable. Ho believed the deceased was quite justified in starting out. The machine was mechanically sound. The coroner: In your opinion you took no risks? Witness: No. Hu pointed out that Boucher had actually flown some distance along tho coastline past Ohiro Bay before turning inland. Apparently he had turned more widely than he intended. Without blind-flying instruments and the knowledge of how to use them it was quite impossible to fly with any degree of safety in clouds. The coroner: I have been told that you can place no reliance on the altimeter at anything under 600 ft. Witness: That is putting it too strongly. We don’t rely on it at low heights. Replying to Sub-Inspector Martin, witness said that he did everything possible for Boucher, but there was very little he could do. He was afraid of the machine toppling over on to him. He climbed down and soaked his handkerchief in tho stream and moistened Boucher’s mouth. So far as his own condition at present was concerned, he was almost able to leave the hospital. Witness pointed out that if ar. aeroplane had trouble when it \va o flying above the clouds it was impossible to see where to make best landing. No doubt Boucher had gone round the coast thinking that the clouds were light and fleecy, and that he could go through, them and gain height. “You cannot tell where you ate going hi clouds,” witness concluded. “Thu only thing is to keep out of them.” Mounted Constable W. S. Brown gave evidence of having taken part in tho search. He said that the countiy in the vicinity of t*io accidc.it was very rugged and difficult to negotiate. Tho coroner, in retaining a verdict of accidental death attributable to uu--I'avourablo weather conditions fur flying, emphasised ‘he danger of flying in clouds and fog. lie (-(mi 1 sec i:d reason for saying th u tho <k ceased look any undue risks. He was an ex- ' peiienced pilot, and his companion had said that, ho himself would net have hesitated to start out for Nelson Therefore no possible blame could be attached to tho deceased. Mr. Swan had done all in his power to a’d the deceased under difficiili, conditions and despite his own injuries.