FLIERS INJURED AT PAGEANT

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 56, 22 March 1937, Page 6

FLIERS INJURED AT PAGEANT

-Preis Association.)

Gypsy Moth Goes Into Spin 50 Feet Up CRASHES ON TO WING

(By Telegraph-

vx-KHi J- -MLU U L ±Xj Ijast JNlgnx. Making the last landing in the senior landing competition at the ofBcial South Island pageant at Hokitika this afteruoon Pilot Frank Sharman, of Christchurch, a competitor from the Cantorbury Aero Club, met with a mishap invovlving him in serious injury and extensive damage to the Canterbury Club,'s DH Gipsy Moth plane ZK-AAI. Pilot Sharman appeared to be making a good landing when, about 50 feet from the ground, he went in to a spin ofl a sliding turn, crashing on the left Wing. The under-carriage hi* the ground with considerable force and the propeller blades both snapped off. The plane narrowly missed a Royal Air Force machine ab jv.t to take off. Pilot Sharman 's head evidently came into violent contact with the cowling in front of the pilot 's seat nad he suffered a compressed fracture of the skull. He was attended on the ground by Dr. W. MeKay, of Greymouth, and was removed to Westland hospital where, it is reported, his condition is serious. The accident was witnessed by over 2000 people and the weather at the time was foggy. Pilot Sharman was married about a years ago. He was a former wellknown amateur speedway rider.