AIRLINER GRASS LANDS

Chronicle (Levin), 9 November 1948, Page 5

AIRLINER GRASS LANDS

(N.Z.P.A.-

Reuter t

Pilots Killed ; Passengers Scramble Out

Copyright)

Received Monday, 7 p.m. MELBQ.URNJB, Nov. 8. "When the Australian National Airways Douglas airliner Kyilla crash-landed near the summit of i\Xt. Macedon, 40 air miles northvvest of Melbourne, today, the pilot and eo-pilot were killed. Though the plane was wrecked ;md burnt out, the hostess and 19 passengers escaped with minor injuries or a seVere shaking. "h'lie dead are Captain H. H. Warlow Davies and First Offieer J. B. Keyes, both of Sydney. The plane, which was fiying to Sydney via Deniiiquin, left Melbourne about 7 a.m. today and crashed about an hour later. The radio operator of another plane in the area heard 'the pilot ask control at Essendon aerodrome, Melbourne, for permission to descend from 11,000 to 7000 feet beeause of heavy icing conditions. The operator heard the request repeated and then a few minutes later the Kyilla radioed that it was deseending to 7000 feet. Five min.utes later Essendon repeatedly called the aircraft, using the emergency proeedure, but receivecf no reply. The plane crashed in a pine plantation near the top of the mountain. Eye witnesses said that the plane slid hundreds of yards across the pine trees, smashed its nose into the ground and starteci to burn. Residents saiv the plane flying in a direet line towards the mountain. It eut through the tops of Ihe trees until it reached a fire break when it sleived round and crashed 50 feet to the ground. Pieces of the win'g and tailplane were ripped off and were found hundreds of yards from the wreck. Passengers said that some had their belts secured and others had no time. Tlie seats tore, away ahd the passengers were liurled forward. About 14 of them scrambled through the door and others through the windows. Some passengers scorehed their hair as they made their escape, as the plane was already burning. The air hostess, Miss E. Fry, remained cairn and took charge of the situation. Three passengers climbed into the wreeked eabin and attempted to reseue the pilot and co-pilot. Tlie nose was smashed in and it was obvions that the pilot was dead but both men were released and ean'ied out. The co-pilot died later. It was the t.hird Australian Xational Airways erasli in" two nionths, the others being the Lutana which crashed into a mountainside on September 2 with a death roll ot 13, and the Kauana wliieh was severely damaged in a l'orced landing on October 4 without loss of li fe.