NURSE'S LEAP

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 20, 8 February 1937, Page 7

NURSE'S LEAP

—Press Association,!

to Death from Plane N.Z. TRAGEDY 1 6 Door Forced Open When Over Cook Strait ° PLANE FOtLOWS BODY

By Telegraph

BLENHEIM, This Day. Forcing open the door of the Marlborough Aero Club's Waco cabin plane while the pilot endeavoured to maintain control of the snachihe and at the same time check her tragic action, Miss Vlva Maud Farmf/r, the sole passenger. fell to her death in the middel of Cook Strait from a height of 2500 feet this morning. Aged between 40 and 50, the deceased was theatre sister and dispenser at Wairau Hospital, Blenheim. She was. also an experienced aeroplane pilot and the holder of a licenee. So far no evidence has be#n discovered to account for th* drarnatic oceuTrence. At the cominencement of the ill--etarred fiight, Miss Farnvjsr appeared perfeetly normal and cheerfal. She was beginning a f ortnight 's holiday leav© and had booked hejr paasage by Cook Strait Airways for Wellington. This morning, however, at 8 a.m. she rang the Aero Club with the object of tiring a Moth to tike her aeross the the Strait. Ascertaining that PilotCfficer A. E. Willis was going to Wellington in the Wacp to pick np passengoxs thexe, she decided to travel wxth hiux and concelled her seat ln the serVice plane at 8.40. The Waco, with Mr Willis at the controls and Miss Farmar seated alongside Mm, took off at 9.5 for Wellington. Miss Farmar appeared her usual carefree self, joking -with the pilot in the most natural manner. After the maehine had left the eoast, Miss Farmar remarked that she wanted to get her hag and moved to the rear seat. Next, Mr. Willis felt an inrush of air and the maehine slewed. Looking round, he saw Ms passenger with the door— whieh open's against the wind — partly open and trying to force" it further open. Flying conditions were bumpy bixt, keeping one hand on the controls, Mr. Willis rbnched back and grasped Miss Farmar who, tc.wever, wrenehed heveelf free and, flinging herself against the door, went hurtiing into space. Mr. Willis throttled the engxne baek mnd I'oiljwed the body down until it dlsappenred into .the sea, which was rough. lie einied the spot for some time, hnt fa:led 1o see the hody again lo retnrned to Blenheim and reported the affair. The plane wili he inspeeted and the door testcd by the Government aviation inspector hefore an inquest is meld. The deceased had a long period of servite with the ITospital Board, As a member -of the Aero Club she was highly popular and a eompetent pilot with inucii cross-conntry flying to her credit.