Pilot Who Flew Low Guilty Of Foolhardiness

Chronicle (Levin), 8 December 1949, Page 5

Pilot Who Flew Low Guilty Of Foolhardiness

Press Assoeiation)

( Per

TAURANGA, Dec. 8. "You are guilty of an actioh of a foolhardy nature,-'. Mr.' Walton, S.M., told Anthony Bryce Denriis, cqmpany manager, of Hamilton, who admitted a charge of flying an aifcraft at a lOw altitude so as to cause unnecessary danger, when he appeared in the Tauranga Magistrate's Court. The prosecution was the sequel to numerous cOmplaints lodged by residents of Mt. Maunganui, where dfefendant on September 10 hired an aircraft from the Tauranga Aero Club. It resulted in a fine of £25, with costs. Police evidence shoWed that shortly after defendant hired the plane both the aero club and Air Control -were inundated with telephone rings from persons living at Mt. Maunganui, complaining about the low and dangerous flying of the pilot of orie of the club's planes. The only- plane up dt the time was that piloted by defendant. \ One resident stated that the plane came down to a very low level and said the landing wheels were no more than 10 feet off the beach. A second complainant, - himself a pilot, stated that the plane flew just over the roof' tops of houses in the main street. and estimated. its height at between 50 and iOO feet. He also said that the pilot made two eifcuits at a ridiculoiisly low level. Defendailt claime'd that he had hired the plane to survey .prbposed fishing grotirids. When about 400 feet from the Mount hfe had put the plane to a threfe degree toank and later to a steep flick. While doing so he became ill and . considered landing on the b.eaeh. In view of the riumber .of people there, he decided against this. Derinis stated that the sickriess was probably eaused by sfevere concussion sustairie'd in a moto'r accident, but. denied that he had flowri low. over the township. . "Thfe dirfector of Civil Aviation desires a serious attitude taken in regard tb this breach placed before, yoq," .Seniorv gergeant J„ Oc-rston told tn© m&gtstr&to; t- %