AEROPLANE SMASH

Hokitika Guardian, 14 October 1929, Page 6

AEROPLANE SMASH

PILOT VALE’S LUCKY ESCAPE

(Bv Telegraph—Press Association)

CHRISTCHURCH, Oefi. 13.

People in the Spreydon district were horrified at 11 o’clock this mornling when an aeroplane, whujh had been stunting overhead, developed engine trouble, landed in a ploughed field, and turned completely over. The residents from nearby houses rescued the pilot. Captain Noel Vale, from the wrecked machine. Vale’s only injury was a cut over the left eye. The machine was totally wrecked. The machine was stunting about a mile from where the crash occurred. Captain Vale had just come out of a loop, when the engine stopped. The Moth then began to drop and Vale made for Barrington Park, an open area. It proved to be full of children and Captain Vale then made for an empty field beyond. He just cleared the telegraph wires ,running with the wind and being unable to make height. The end of the field was in grass, on which he landed, but the plane ran on to the ploughed part, and it immediately turn ed a somersault. The propeller blades were broken off short and the v. ngs and fusilage were crumpled with the impact.

The machine by great good fortune, did not catch fire. The plane was one of those supplied by the Government to the Aero Club. Captain Vale is an experienced pilot and is now a reservist.