Fatal Crash Near Stratford

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 116, 2 June 1937, Page 5

Fatal Crash Near Stratford

•. t -Press Aagoclation.)

WELLINGTON MILES HAWK Plane Strikes Hillock, Rises, Then Falls to Pieces PASSENGER KILLED

(Br Telegraph-

STRATFORD, This Day. The Wellington Aero Oluh'i Miles Hawk plane, while proceeding to New Plymouth, crashed on a fam property four miles west Qf Startford about 10 o'clock this morning. A passenger, Mr. P. J. Nathan, of Christchurch, was killed instantaneously, and the pilot Mr. C. H. Dunford, of Wellington,, was removed to the Stratford Hospital suffering from a compound fracture .of .the left ankle and bruises to the head and face. The plane was completely wrecked, por- 0 tion8 being strewed over a wide area. The pccupants of a fannhouse nearby heaid the crash and, on going to the plano, foxaid the pilot attempting to extricate himself from the. wreckage, Mr. Nathan had received shocking in-. joides. When a heavy fog and a atrong northerly wind were encountered the pilot decided to turn back, and in the poor visibility the pjane struck a hiL lock, damaging the undercarriage. The plano rose again but was out ofl controi and travelled 300 yards, losing a wheel in a fence and portion of the propeller before it fell to pieces in n gully. The engine was found 40 feet away from the wreckage. Mr. Dunford is a pilot member of the Wellington Aero Club, holding an A endorsed licence^