A JUMP TO DEATH

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 33, 9 February 1937, Page 8

A JUMP TO DEATH

WOMAN’S TRAGIC ACTION LEAVES ’PLANE IN MID-AIR FALL OF 2500 FEET TO COOK STRAIT L Per Treba Association. J BLENHEIM, Feb. 8. Forcing open a door ot the Maxiborough Aero Club’s Waco cabi.i ’plane while the pilot was endeavouring to maintain control of the machine, and at the same time checA her tragic action, Miss Viva Mauu larmar, sole passenger, fell to her death in the middle ot Cook Sra.t from a height of 2500 feet this morning. xtged between 40 and 50, dec.aseu was a theatre sister and dispense r at the Wairau Hospital, Blenheim. She was also an experienced aeiop.ane pilot and holder of a licence. So far no evidence has been discovered to account for the dramatic occurrence. At the commencement of the ILstarred flight, Miss Farmar appeared perfectly normal and cheeriul. She was beginning a fortnight’s hul day leave and had booked her passage by Cook Strait Airways for Wellington this morning. However, at 8 a.m., she rang the Aero Club with the object of hiring a Moth to take hex across the strait. Ascertaining th.u Pilot-Officer A. E. Willis was going to Wellington in the Waco to pica up passengers there, she decided to travel with him and cancelled a seat in tne service 'plane at 8.40. The Waco, with Willis at tne controls, and M'ss Farmar seated alongside him, took oil at 9.5 for Wellington. Miss Farmar appeared her c~rcfreeself, joking with the pilot in a most natural manner. After the machine left the coast Miss Farmar, remarking that she wanted to get hei bag, moved to the rear seat. The next thing the pilot felt was an onrush of air and the machine slewed. Looking round he saw his passenger with a door —which opens against the wind —partly open and trying to force it further open. Flying conditions were bumpy, but keeping one hand on the controls, Willis reached back and grasped M.ss Farmar, who, however, wrenched herself free, and flinging herself against the door, went hurtling into space. Willis throttled the engine back, ana followed the body down until it disappeared in the sea, which was rough. He circled the spot for some time, but failed to see the body again, so returned to Blenheim and reported the affair. The 'plane is to be inspected and the door, tested by the Government aviation inspector before the inquest is held.

Deceased had a long period of service with the Hospital Board and as a member of the Aero Club she was a highly popular and competent pilot, with much cross-country flying to her credit.

AN UNACCOUNTABLE ACT DECEASED’S FINE RECORD WAS TO HAVE COMPETED AT WANGANUI PILOT’S UNENVIABLE EXPERIENCE. [ Per Press Association. J BLENHEIM, Feb. 8. No reason has yet been advanced by those closely associated with her for the action of Sister V. W. Farmar in forcing open a door of the Marlborough Aero Club’s Waco cabin 'plane and plunging to her death. From all accounts, including that ot the pilot, Officer A. E. Willis, who was in charge of the machine, she was in a happy and cheerful mood before she entered the 'plane. Mr. Willis, who was obviously deeply affected by the incident, said this evening that he had taken Miss Farmar to the aerodrome, and on the way there she discussed cheerfully the tennis tournament that was held during the week-end between the Wellington and Marlborough Clubs on the Marlborough courts. She had taken a leading part in arranging for the entertainment of the visitors, including supervising the provision of afternoon tea and supper, and she had talked on the week-end in a cheerful and vivacious way, displaying not the slightest sign that she was under mental stress. “When we were about half-way over the Strait she remarked that she wanted to get something from a handbag which was lying in the rear seat,” Mr. Willis said. “Little movement was necessary for her to get it and I had no hesitation in allowing her to move from her seat, particularly because she had plenty of experience in flying. She shifted to the rear seat, and the next I knew was there was a draught in the 'plane. I looked round and saw that the door was open and Miss Farmar in the act of jumping. I tried to reach her but she eluded me and she went through the door before I could do anything more. The whole thing happened almost in a second. I got the 'plane under control again, for it needed immediate attention. I went down to about 50 feet but could see nothing. She disappeared immedaitely she hit the sea, and after flying round for some time I decided that lhe best thing I could do was to return to Blenheim and report as soon as I could.”

Contact was made with the civil aviation authorities soon after the ’plane landed and an order was received that it should not be flown until inspected by a departmental cfficer who, this afternoon, flew to Blenheim, and later, accompanied by Mr. Willis (piloting the machine), Mr. A. A. McNab, president of the Marlborough Aero Club, and Constable Smith, went up to test the door of the 'plane. A report will be presented to the department. An inquest will be held later, the date being uncertain owing to the necessity for a reasonable time to clafle in case the body may be recovered. The coroner will then consider evidence presented by the police and make a recommendation to the Minister. The tragic occurrence, which is the

first of its kind in New Zealand aviation, has deeply affected members of the Aero Club and hospital staff by whom the deceased was highly regarded. The late Sister Farmar joined the Wairau Hospital in 1906, later going to Napier and afterwards commencing private nursing. She was with the nursing staff at the war and rejoined the Wairau staff in 1919. She joined the Marlborough Aero Club in 1929 and had over 100 hours’ flying experience, gaining an A licence endorsed, and made several cross-coun-try and trans-Strait flights, both solo and with companions. She was to have competed at the pageant to be held at Wanganui next month.