DEATHS OF FLYERS

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 89, 9 January 1935, Page 2

DEATHS OF FLYERS

Five Killed in New r Zealand Last Year Five flyers were killed in the four fatal aeroplane accidents that occurred in New Zealand in 1934. In the worst crash, both pilot and passenger were killed. In one of the other accidents t the pilot lost his life, while the passenger survived, and in another the reverse was the case, the passenger beiug killed' and the pilot injured. The fourth and most- recent smash, which followed .:! collision in the air, resulted in the death of a pilot, who had been flying solo. Two lives were lost when a Moth aeroplane belonging to the Western Federated Aero Club crashed in the densely-wooded slopes of Mount. Egmont on September 13. The victims were Mr. S. W. Green, aged 26, single the pilot, and Mr. J. A. Austin, a photographer. Both were New Plymouth residents. The machine was completely smashed. The president of the Auckland Aero Club, Mr. E. R. Boucher, was killed, and the secretary, Mr. L. W. Swan, was injured, when the club’s machine, ZK-AAL, crashed in clouds and fog on u hill near Mount Hawkins, not far from the entrance to Wellington Harbour, on Marell 17. Mr. Boucher, the pilot, died early the following morning while being carried on a stretcher over extremely rough country to an ambulance. Mr. Swan, who collapsed after summoning help, made a good recovery, and has since done considerable flying. There were two flying fatalities last month. The first occurred on November 24, when an Otago Aero Club Moth crashed at St. Andrews, near Timaru, while flying through .a heavy fog. The passenger, Mr. Howard Bailey, of Dunedin, was killed, but the pilot. Mr. F. C. Taylor, suffered comparatively slight injuries. The machine was damaged extensively. The accident was the first the Dunedin club had had since 1930,

The most recent flying fatality occurred on November 28, during an aerial pageant at Te Aroha. Two machines, a Moth flown by Mr. C. Waite, aged 29, married, of Te Aroha, and a Desoutter, flown by Mr. 8. J. Blackmore,'of Hamilton. collided during a mock battle. The Moth crashed from about 1500 ft., and Mr. Waite, who was captain of the Te Aroha Club, was killed instantly. The machine, which was owned by Mr. A. Scott, of Auckland, was smashed to pieces. Mr. Blackmore succeeded in bringing his damaged monoplane down partly under control. It turned over on landing and the pilot escaped with a broken nose.