Parachute Jumper Has Lucky Escape

Chronicle (Levin), 11 April 1949, Page 7

Parachute Jumper Has Lucky Escape

A young parachute jumper, Eriau Musson, had a narrow escape from death on Saturday afternoon when he yjras ahout to mahe his first jump at the aero carniVal at Milson Airport. Musson, who is a member 6f Hewitt's ■ Flying Cireus, was pngaged to make two jumps during the afternoon. "He was taken alpft by the Middle Districts , Aero Club instructor, Mr. Cyril Plumtree, who ,made several circuits of the airport to gain height. Musson saw that the aircraft was downwind from the airport a'nd stood up in his cockpit to tell the pilot what was. required. As he did so his back parachute release caught on the switches in the cockpit and out of the corner of his eye he saw tlie silk emerge from the pack. When he arrived at the aerodrome later Mr. Musson said:. "It has only , happened to one man in'New Zeaiand before. As soon as I saw the silk l ; knew what was coming and shut my eyes and thought this was it. I was jerked out of the cockpit with a terrilic drag as the wind caught the umbrella. My arm hit the tailplane and the 'chute pack was torn- partly away from the shrouds. I was lucky to get away with it so lightly. The 'ehute could easiiy have gone between the struts below the tailplane." So great was the force with which Mr. Musson was pulled from the air- : craft that he left his shoes behind. He said he look,ed ayound for the Tiger Moth when ie was floating downwards; expeeting to see it "spinuing "in. " Rowever, Mr. Plumtree was able to control the machine. He watched the parachutist desdend on to a field at the side of Stoney Creek Road, a mile from the airport, and returned to the airport for assistanee. Mr. Hugh Kimpton made a rapid journey to the spot in. his car and found Mr. Musson with an injured arm. He took .the parachutist to the Palmerston North Hospital whdre the arm was X-rayed, but the only injury was severe bruising. j Mr. Musson was diSappointed that he ' could not make his second jump. He Was to have made three or four more at other centres yesterday.