AEROPLANE CRASH

Hokitika Guardian, 9 February 1931, Page 4

AEROPLANE CRASH

AT WAJROA. PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS 1 KILLED. (Extraordinary). WELLINGTON, Feb. 8 A mo no]) lane Hying from Gisborne to* Hastings crashed at Wairoa to-day. Pilot Lieut. Right and two passengers, W. F. Baker (Gisborne and W. C. Strand (Lower Hutt) were all killed. I _ _ further details. GISBORNE, February' 8. Disaster alter disaster follows in the Wairoa district, the latest occurring shortly after noon to-day, when a Dominion Airways monoplane crashed within a mile of the town, three persons being killed. The victims were Flight Lieutenant Kight, solicitor, of Daunevirke, Director of Dominion Airways; Walter Findlay, a well-known business man of Gisborne, where he owns a large hackery and caterer’s business; and W. C. Shnnd, whose address is said to he Brunswick Street, Lower Hutt, who was the representative of „ A. S. Paterson, Ltd., and son of the Mavot* of Lower Hutt. The plane left GisWfie at 1.8 o’clock, with instructions to drop at Wairoa a bag contain, ilijr telegi'alits. Eto lit what can be gathered at present, the plane dropped the bag ami rose again. It then banked and the engine stalled and the machine nose-dived into the side of the road near a Public Works camp, one mile from Wairoa bridge. When the spectators reached the spot, the plane was found completely turned over with its nose buried deep in the ground. Men worked feverishly in breaking a portion of the right wing to get to the occupants. It was found, however, that it was too late to render assistance. The victims wer® killed outright, but one, whose name is unknown, was breathing, but died within a few minutes. The crowd was kept back, and a cordon was formed, pending the arrival of the police. The ship’s doctor on the Northumberland, who had been ma r oo n ed here since the liner came here on its wild goose cluise in response to an exag* gerated message that the “sufferers needed help,” also arrived, but could do nothing. The bodies were removed to the Public Works Department stores.

The plane was a monoplane, a Desouter cabined machine, registered “Z.K.A.C.A.” and arrived in Gisborne from Hastings about midday to-day, and departed for Hastings about 12. 40 p.rn. The same machine, piloted bv Capt. Bolt, has performed excellent service in maintaining communication between Gisborne atid outside since the tjtiake. Capt. Bolt Was only relieved from iiis duties to-tfcty, and Lieut; Right took over the day’s tHp. It had been intended to return to Gisborne with mail matter later in the afternoon. On the arrival of the machine on Saturday, Capt. Bolt said he had never had a, worse trip, bumping occurring all the way, and he went to the length of strapping himself in for the return trip to Hastings on Saturday. Mr Findlay was a very popular business man. of the town. He had been in Napier attending to business interests there, and only returned to Gisborne on Saturday night, and left again to-day about 1.15 p.m. for the devastated area to make arrangements for bread supplies. He is survived by a widow and two sons. RIGHT’S DEATH. DANNEVIRKE, February 8. Word has been received here that Ivan L. Kight, with two passengers, crashed in a plane at Wairoa, and all were killed. Kight was a well-known Daunevirke lawyer, and was associated with Hood and Moncrieff in the illfated Tasman flight.