PILOT KILLED AND PASSENGER BURNED WHEN PLANE CRASHES

Wanganui Chronicle, 17 January 1949, Page 4

PILOT KILLED AND PASSENGER BURNED WHEN PLANE CRASHES

CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night (PA).—The pilot was killed outright and the passenger badly burned when a privately-owned Tiger Moth crashed and burst into flames in the Rakaia riverbed at Happy Valley, about 9 miles from Methven, at 3.15 p.m. today. The men were: KILLED Colin Parkin, aged 26 years, labourer, employed at Methven, whose parents live at Bankside. INJURED Robin Burrows, aged abcut 22 years, driver, of Cameron Street, Methven, serious burns and condition late tonight critical. Both were employed by Burnett’s Motors at Methven. The aeroplane took eff from Mr. E. J. Brand’s private aerodrome, Highbank, about 3 o’clock. It was flying along the riverbed when the wing of the aircraft struck an 18ft. high cabbage tree. The plane continued in the air for almost 70 yards. The machine struck the ground and skidded about 13 ya?ds along the ground before coming to a stop in flames.

Mr. Burrows dragged himself clear of the burning wreck. Metalwork from the body of the aircraft pierced the body of Mr. Parkin, who is believed to have been killed instantly. Mr Sydney Watson, who was shooting in the riverbed on his father’s property, saw the aeroplane strike a tree and rushed to the assistance of Mr. Burrows. Watson helped Burrows remove his burning clothing. The aeroplane was owned by Mr. H. Dobson, a member of the Canterbury Aero Club, who had hired it to Parkin, who is also a member. The machine, which was a total loss, was insured.