AIR TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 21 April 1927, Page 2

AIR TRAGEDY

[Australian & N.Z. Cablo Association.] LONDON, April Rb When the Vickers-Virginiu plane was taking oil' at Eastcliurch it struck die "ing of another plane on the ground, rose two hundred, feet and then crashed, turning a complete somersault. When it hit the ground it burst into tlaiiii s and a terrific explosion followed. Assistance was immediately forthcoming, but all of the occupants were found burned to death. LONDON, April ID.

Ihe Air Force Vickers machine \ Irgi nia crashed at Lastehui ch and lour occupants were incinerated. LONDON, April 19.

Aiu*lher Royal Air Force accident, the twelfth one < l the present year, occurred at Kitsulum li. making a total death roil for the year of twenlvoliii so fur. ihe latest crash was uppatently due to the pilot losing control after hitting another machine with flic outstriit.s. The lost machine, which cost £15,000, was one of the standard type for night bombing, it being a development ot tile famous Vickors-Yimy plane of wartime, having a wing span of 8(1 feet. This wide span was the one cause of the disastei. While racing across the aerodrome in a rush to gather speed, the Vickers-Virginia plane collided with a stationary machine on which mechanics were working. When lie got in the air the pilot was unable to steady his plane, though he was still able to turn from left to right. LONDON. April 20. Apparently the aileron of the airplane jammed and refused to he operated bv the joystick. The spectators noticed the airplane was banking steeply to the right, and was quickly losing its flying speed. The pilot meant to bring the airplane quietly to eartn. Instead, however, it nose diven at the rate of one •hundred miles per hour. The nose of the bomber was buried seven feet in tho ground when it landed. lis two tanks, each with seventyfive gallons of petrol, exploded, and the flames rose to a height of forty feet. The onlookers endeavoured to drag the bodies from the wreckage. -Mechanics. at great risk, played on the flames with an extinguisher, but the bodies were charred beyond recognition.