HOW THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 868, 14 July 1910, Page 5

HOW THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED.

TRYING NEW GEAR. A HORRIBLE SPECTACLE. (Rec. July 14, 0.30 a.m.) London, July 1.1. Hi Rolls was using a Wright biplane at the time he met his death. It was the same with which ho had made his recent cross-Channel journey. Instead of a fixed tail-plane yesterday, "However, he utilised Mr. Wright's new adjustable stabiliser. Mr. Rolls considered tho fixed tail-plane greatly assisted the stability, but slightly counteracted the effect of the movements of the elevator. The new piano gave increased facility in ascent and descent. After circling and gradually increasing his altitude, Mr. Rolls at great speed swept over the enclosure with a following wind. Uo then headed round behind the grandstand in the teeth of the wind, descending at a steep gradient towards the prescribed alighting point. Passing over the lawn at the height of 70 feet, ho stopped the motor, and began to descend at an angle of 40 degrees, in order to use the opposing wind and avoid a long run to the ground. With a view to checking his descent and alighting en the wheels of the aeroplane, ho therefore brought the elevating plane up sharply. Tho sudden air pressure on the tailplane caused by his violent pull at tho lever precipitated the collapse, and the gear connecting the rudder snapped at a height of fifty feet. Silence and horror seized the crowd on seeing the machine turn sharply head downwards, and crash to the -ground from a height of 35 feet. The motor instantly exploded with a loud report. King George and Queen Mary have sent a message of condolence to Mr. Rolls's father, Lord Llangattock.