Crashed Plane Is Complete Write-Off

Chronicle (Levin), 15 November 1949, Page 3

Crashed Plane Is Complete Write-Off

NEW PLYMOUTH, Nov. 14. "It is the worst write-off of a Tiger Moth I have seen," commented Mr. C. H. Plumtree, chief instructor of the Middle Districts Aero Club, Palmerston North, after he had seen the elub's aircraft ZK — AIU which crashed at Upper Palmer Road, Mahoe, yesterday evening. The aircraft struck a fence on the farm of Hartley Brothers, reared up on to its. nose and fell back. The engine was practically wrenched ■! from its mountings, the front cockpit was badly smashed but the damage was lighter in the rear cockpit. There was no appreciable part of the aircraft which was not damaged to some degree, most of it badly. Though it was considered that nothing could be salvaged, a truck had previously been sent from Palmerston North to collect the aircraft and the club's ground engineer, Mr. W. Bower, with the aid of others and the tise of Hartley Brothers' tractor, cut the machine into sections which were hauled to the road ready for the truck. The aircraft ended up half-way hetween a cowshed and house, only two chains from the road. Officials of the Stratford Aero Club considered that had the pilot, Miss Margaret Gale, Palmerston North, continued on the course she was flying for a few moments more, she would have -crashed in bush in the Egmont National Park and difficulty would have been experienced in reaching the scene before dark last night. Two other members of the Middle Districts Club were at the scene with Mr. Plumtree and Mr. Bower. They were Mr. E. West who forcelanded near Urenui last week due to engine trouble, and Mr. P. Currie, a pilot member of the club. Miss Gale had recovered sufficiently to leave her bed at the Stratford Public Hospital during the morning ■