MOTH 'PLANE CRASHES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 82, 7 April 1934, Page 10

MOTH 'PLANE CRASHES

OCCUPANT’S LUCKY E C CAPE ACCIDENT AT MILSOM. I Per Press Association. ] PALMERSTON N., April 6. Developing a steep semi-spin after apparently stalling at a height of 200 feet, a Moth ’plane, owned by the Manawatu Aero Club and piloted by Mr. J. W. Rodden, the sole occupant, crashed in a field near Milsom aero drome at 7.30, the pilot haying a re£i**kable escape. Mr. Rodden, who has done live hours’ solo flying, was descending after a short flight fairly slowly for a practice landing when the accident occurred, due, it is believed, to the loss of speed. The ’plane hit the ground with great force, making a hole about a foot deep where tho nose struck. It then bounced back ami stood on its nose at a steep angle, with the front of the fuselage crushed and the wing edges resting on the ground, the tail being practically straight up. The pilot was dazed but almost unhurt. and was able to climb out. Luckily there was no occupant of the front cockpit, otherwise he would have been killed instantly. Mr. Rodden struck his face on the cowling when thrown for-

ward and received abrasions about the eyes. In an interview, he said that he considered that he had had a miraculous escape. He is now suffering slightly from shock. The ’plane, though badly damaged, i§ considered repairable. This is the same machine as that in which SquadronLeader MacGregor, the club’s instructor, sustained severe injuries in a crash in December, 1932.