A FORCED LANDING

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19759, 14 December 1935, Page 7

A FORCED LANDING

AIR LINER WRECKED. OCCUPANTS NOT INJURED, MISHAP OFF TASMANIA. United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright. MELBOURNE, Deo. 13. Another Holyman air liner,' the Lepena, of the DHB6 type, carrying two pilots and eight passengers, made a forced landing at Hunter Island, ofi the west coast of Tasmania to-day, owing to a wing crumpling in midair. The passengers were in grave peril, but it is reported that nobody was injured. From meagre reports it appears that the Lepena left Launceston for Melbourne via King Island, on the northwest coast of Tasmania, with a heavy load of mail, due to the shipping holdup. The chief pilot noticed that one wing was collapsing when the machine was near Hunter Island, which is lonely and uninhabited. He decided to rush there and try to land, and meanwhile sent radio messages describing his plight which were received by Tasmanian and'' Victorian stations. He brought the machine down in rough country without injuring the passengers, but the Lepena was practically wrecked. A flight aeroplane has been sent from Tasmania, as well as a launch, to bring the passengers and crew back to Launoeston. Certificates Suspended. The Minister of Defence, Mr R. A. Parkhill, announced this afternoon that it had been decided to suspend the certificate of airworthiness Of all DHB6 aircraft In use in Australia. The suspension wil apply immediately even to machines which are outside Australia carrying English air mail. PASSENGERS ON ISLAND. BESIDE THE WRECKED PLANE, THE PILOT TAKEN OFF. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright (Received .Deo. 14, 11 a.m.) MELBOURNE, DeC. 14. Dispensation has been given to enable the DHB6 machines carrying the English Christma s mail to go I a Singapore, hut they may not carry passengers. The eight passengers in the Lepena spent the night on the island beside the wrecked plane.

There is not even an emergency landing field on Hunter Island, consequently the pilot's brief message: /“ Plane wrecked, passengers safe,’’ was received with great relief by the Victorian and Tasmanian stations. The Holyman plane will pick iup the passengers to-day unless a from Smithton, Tasmania, should reach the island first. A light plane which arrived at Hunter Island last night was able to take off the pilot, Food was left for the passengers. I SUSPENSION OF MACHINES. DESCRIBED AS INCREDIBLE. FINE RECORD OF AIRWORTHINESS. United Press Assn.— Eloc. Tei. copyright (Received Deo. 14, 11.35 a.m.) LONDON, Deo. 13.

An offloial of tire de Havilland Company says: “The suspension of the DHBG machines is Incredible. We have no information as to the decision, and it Is impossible to comment. The machines have a splendid record of airworthiness in England. It is true that the snapping of a flying wire on the wing is unusual, but it is not desperately serious,*' as tho ultimate safe landing of tho machine in question should have shown."