FATAL CRASH

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 148, 18 March 1939, Page 13

FATAL CRASH

Great Barrier Island Tragedy

PASSENGER KILLED; PILOT INJURED

Aeroplane Completely

W recked By Telegraph—Press Association. AUCKLAND, March 17. A Miles Magister low-wing monoplane belonging to the Auckland Aero Club crashed into tussocky marshland about 200 yards from the aerodrome boundary on Great Barrier Island this afternoon, killing the passenger and seriously injuring the pilot. The machine, which was acquired by the club about a year ago at a cost of £lB5O was completely wrecked. The occupants were:— Killed. W. H. Claris, aged about 32. single, believed to have relatives in Wellington. He was Public Works engineer in charge of the aerodrome on the island. Injured. E. M. Walker, Auckland, double fracture of right leg and injuries to the face. He is in the Auckland Hospital. There are only. fragmentary details about how the accident happened. Till Mr. Walker has recovered sufficiently to give a coherent account the full story will not be known. According to information furnished by onlookers some distance away there was engine trouble and the monoplane rapidly lost height. Before the pilot could recover control it struck the ground. Mr. Claris was shockingly injured and death must have been instantaneous.

Found Sitting Ln Wreckage.

When the first of the rescuers arrived they found Mr. Walker sitting among the twisted wreckage of the machine. He was obviously seriously injured and in great pain so they forbore moving him and did all they could to make him comfortable, in spite of the lack of adequate first-aid equipment on the island. The nearest telephone was some distance from the aerodrome and one of the workmen had to run across rough country to reach it quickly. The accident happened at about 1.50 p.m. Mr. Walker set off from Mangere Aerodrome at 9.45 a.m., called at Tauranga, and on his way back to Auckland decided to visit Great Barrier Island.. He picltod up Mr. Claris, apparently to take him for a trip, but whether the crash occurred shortly after the machine took off or on the return journey is uncertain since Mr. "Walker was too badly hurt afterward to make tiny statement. Observers said flying conditions were good. Telephone communication was established with the mainland. The Beechcraft flying ambulance was toeing overhauled and could not be placed in commission before Sunday. A message was sent to Commo'dore Rivett-Carnic, commanding the New Zealand nlival squadron and. he gave permission for Lieutenant Nicholl, of HALS. Leander, to fly a Supermarine Walrus Amphibian across from Hobsonville to the island. In the meantime arrangements were made for the dispatch of a doctor from Die hospital. The amphibian took off from Hobsonville at 2.50 p.m. and flew to Mechanics’ Baj’, where Dr. Gilmour, a member of the hospital medical staff, was waiting. The doctor clambered on board and the machine soared awajt, Meanwhile those residents living near the aerodrome on the Island did all they could, with the meagre equipment at their disposal, to make the injured pilot comfortable. Squadron Leader D. M. Allan, chief instructor to tlie Auckland Aero Club, and' Mr. A. Slater, chief ground engineer, set off in a Tiger Moth from Mangere, at 3.40, to give what assistance they could and to find out if possible how the tragedy occurred. They returned to Auckland about an hour after the amphibian arrived at Hobsonville. Lieutenant Nicholl made a perfect landing at Hobsonville at 6.25 p.m. A number of air force men lifted Mr. Walker carefully from the body of the fuselage and placed him in a waiting air force ambulance, which travelled slowly over a bumpy stretch of three miles of road between Hobsonville and the Great North Road.

As soon as the ambulance arrived at Auckland Hospital, Mr.. Walker was taken to the theatre. Till an X-ray examination is made the full extent of his injuries will not be known. It is understood the body of Mr. Claris will be brought to Auckland tomorrow morning by aeroplane.