PLANE CRASHES

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 235, 1 July 1944, Page 8

PLANE CRASHES

Flight From Nelson To Hokitika OCCUPANTS BADLY INJURED Passenger’s Long Walk To Road While on a Hight from Nelson to Hokitika yesterday afternoon with six passengers in addition to the pilot, at: aeroplane belonging to Air Travel (N.Z.). 1.1 d., crashed on Mount Hope, between Nelson and Westport. The only information of the crash at Hie time of going to press had come from ilie driver of a truck belonging to Nelson Transport. Ltd., who picked up one of the passengers, Mr. P. R. Perry, of Wellington,’ on the main road to Kawatiri, a place 00 miles from Nelson. Mr. Perry told the driver that some, of the passengers of the plane were badly injured. After the crash the pilot. Flight Lieutenant P. C. Lewis, set out with Mr. Perry for tlie road, but became exhausted and was unable to complete the journey. The other man left him to continue bis walk to the road. Mr. Perry said that one passenger, Mr. G. M. St rat more, Wellington, escaped serious injury, and'was staying by the wrecked plane till help came. The driver telephoned for aid from the Gowan Bridge post oflice. GS miles from Nelson.

An ambulance with a doctor has left from Murchison: also the police and a rescue party. Similar help has been sent from Nelson. No further news was expected till daylight. The place where the plane is thought to be crashed is about two hours from the main road, through thick bush country. The occupants were:— Mr. P. R. Perry, Wellington. Mr. G. M. Stratmore, manager of Macduffs, Lid., Wellington. Captain J. U. .Mercer, Hokitika, managin director of Air Travel (N.Z.), Ltd. Mr. M. Dawe, secretary of Air Travel (N.Z.). Ltd. Mrs. E. Russell, 'Westport. Miss A. Patterson, matron of the Buller Hospital, Westport.. Flight Lieutenant I’. C. Lewis, Hokitika. pilot of tlie machine. .Messrs. Perry and Stratmore, .Mrs. Russell and .Miss Patterson were bound for Westport, and Captain Mercer and Mr. Dawe, for Hokitika. The weather iu the district where the plane was missing was windy with snow cloud about, and the conditions had prevented a search by aeroplanes. The aeroplane left Nelson at 1.10 p.m. and was due at Hokitika at 3.30 p.m. It should have readied Westport at 2.30 li.in. and. having no passengers for Greymouth. have gone direct from Westport lo Hokitika. Its route from Nelson to 'Westport would be over Hope, in the saddle in the ranges between the two towns, aud down tlie Buller Gorge. It was not sighted after leaving the Waimea Plains district, near Nelson, though a number of reports of aeroplanes being heard were received mid investigated. None of them had been confirmed before Mr. Perry walked out to the road. One report that the plane had been heard in the vicinity of the Owen River proved to have originated iu the flight of a Harvard Trainer over the district. A Press Association message from Westport states that, the aeroplane was reported by the police to have been seen between 1.30 p.m. and 1.40 p.m., when it was circling round Glenhope, flying low and apparently in difficulties, Another person saw the piano about the same time apparently heading toward Lake Rotoiti. The engine seemed to bo suddenly cut off ami then the plane was lost to sight. Where it was last seen is rough and rugged country and there is nowhere in the vicinity that would be suitaide for landing. It was considered possible that the plane was attempting to return to Tophouse, where there is an emergency landing ground. The Owen River would be far off the course of the Nelson-Westport plane. Settlers had been sent out to search last night.

The aeroplane is a de Hnvilland Dragon, bearing the marking ZKAIIT, It is a twin-engine biplane reeentlj’ purchased from tlie Air Force by the company, which had had it in service for about three months. It. was not equipped with radio. Previously, J t belonged to Union Airways of N.Z., Ltd. Air Travel recently celebrated the completion of ten years’ service on the route between Nelson and .South Westland, having a remarkable record of flying without serious accidents till some months ago when one of its machines was lost in tlie sea off Westport and lives were lost. Yesterday’s accident is only the second serious accident in its history.