AN AIR CRASH

Hokitika Guardian, 13 April 1931, Page 5

AN AIR CRASH

j (Received this day at 8 a.in.) v V ' . SYDNEY, April 12. The Southern Cross Jurror, ons of the most famous light pi nes in the world, crashed two thousand feet at dusk this evening. The pilot, J. Palmer, aged twenty-nine, and the owner, E. James, aged thirty, were killed instantly. The plane was recently reconditioned nfter its return from New Zealand, whither Guy Menzies piloted it in a sensational solo dash. It was said by witnesses, that it Was about to loop . when the tippet left wing broke and 4 fell on tile lower wing. " \ The machine sagged and went slowly into a tail spin and fell a mile from the Mascot ’dromo, n mass of tangled wreckage, in the sight of many horrified people. Willing hands soon reached the spot

SOUTHERN CROSS JUNR. —a — FALLS 2000 FEET PILOT AND OWNER KILLED © (Aunt ml inn Press Association.)

and dragged the men out, terribly injured, and beyond human aid. FURTHER PA RTTCULA RS. (Received 9.1 b a.m.) SYDNEY, April 13. The pilot, -J. Palmer, had made ten passenger trips durirg the: afternoon and was making the List flight of the day, when the crash occurred. James’s four years old son. was to have accompanied his father, but the latter decided against it at the le-st moment. The machine hit the ground upside down. Much of the wreckage had to be cut away to release the victims. dames was dead, but Palmer died when being carried to the ambulance. James and Palmer intended to leave shortly on a goodwill flight to Japan.