LANDING MISHAP

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19997, 24 July 1939, Page 13

LANDING MISHAP

DAMAGE TO AIR LINER SKID ON WET SURFACE BOUNDARY FENCE HIT OCCUPANTS UNSCATHED (Pur Press Association.) NEW PLYMOUTH, this: day. La ad i nig at New Plymouth aerodrome in a slight crosswind and skidding on the wet surface, the south-bound Union Airways plane at !) a.m. yesterday failed' to stop before it struck the boundary fence along which it ran for about 100 ft. before slewing round again to come to rest with its nose on the main highway reserve, though clear of the bitumen. None cf the crew cf two or the three passengers was injured. A relief plane was run from Auckland, taking passengers and mails on to Wellington. The undercarriage and the propeller of the plane appeared to be fairly extensively damaged, but after Union Airways engineers had made an inspection, it was announced that it woukl be flown to Palmerston North for overhaul in a few days. The pilot was Commander C. A. McDonald, who had with him as copilot Mr. T. R. Pike. Immediately the news of the mishap was received at Wellington, the manager of Union Airways, Mr. F. M. Clarke, whose wife was among the passengers, set off for New Plymouth. He 'travelled by air service to Palmerston North and there joined one of the company’s De Havilland 86’s in which .the service manager, Commander A. G. Gerrand, the chief engineer, Mr. L. Mangham, and members of the engineering staff flew to New Plymouth. Damaged Plane Inspected An inspection, of She damaged Lockheed was made and the party returned to Palmerston North later in he afternoon accompanied toy the pilot and co-pilot. Mr. Mangham will return with members of the engineering staff to-day to supervise personally the repairing of the plane. Because the plane was projecting on to the road, a temporary fence was run round and the lights were left burning last night to warn traffic. To prevent damage toeing done to the liner, a police guard was mounted and for the night watch the police were relieved by two civil reserve trainees. Statement by Manager The following statement was issued to the press by the manager of the company: “When the 8 a.m. AueklandWdl'linglton Lockheed arrived at New Plymouth on schedule this morning, the machine, after landing, skidded on the wet surface of the aerodrome and ran into the fence, causing minor damage to the aircraft. It was raining at the time and visibility on the aerodrome was only fair. There were three passengers, one for New Plymouth and two for Wellington. The passengers were not aware that anything untoward had happened as no toump was experienced in the cabin when ithe machine hit the fence. It is expected! that within two or three days the machine will be flown back to Palmerston North where it will be thoroughly overhauled before being placed in service again. The main damage is to the undercarriage and propellers, but they can be repaired. A relief plane was despatched from Auckland at 10.55 a.m., arriving at New Plymouth at 11.54 and leaving with- both the Wellington .passengers at 12.2 p.m. It arrived at Palmerston North at 12.45 and left with five passengers at 12.55, arriving ait Wellington at 1.40 p.m. All services will run as usual.”