AVIATION

Hokitika Guardian, 21 April 1931, Page 6

AVIATION

CAUSE OF CRASH

PETROL GIVES OUT

(Australian Press Association)

SYDNEY, April 20.

A message from Batavia states that the plane, “City of Cairo,” crashed lour kilometres from Koepang. The crash was owing to a lack of benzine. The landing wheels and side engines were damaged l>cyond repair.

There is no further information from Timor whore to-dav is the half holiday, which apparently involves the interruption of communications. The neighbourhood of the crash is heavily-timbered country, in which n big aeroplane would find the greatest difficulty in landing. Some of the ground prepared for aviation is only fit, for light craft. PILOTS’ ACCOUNT. DECEIVED BY GRASS. KOEPANG. April 20. The City of Cairo pilots, when interviewed, said that from Soejnba Island to Koepang, they were flying against '.head winds. They were obliged to reduce their speed from 80 to 70 miles nil hour. When near Koepang they found that their petrol was running short, so they headed for a place three miles from the town, which looked like a grass field, hut. unfortunately, under the grass there were sharp stones ami rocks which caused the smash.

SOUTHERN CROSS. TO FINISH THE JOB. SYDNEY, April 20. There are negotiations proceeding between the Australian National Airways and the Imperial Airways, which probably will result in Kings ford Smith going j.o Koepang in the Southern Cross to pick' up the City of Cairo’s mails and bring them on to Australia. The four hundred and fifty miles Timor Sea flight is considered to he too hazardous for the single-engined Quantas pianos. RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MAILS. SYDNEY, April 20. The Deputy Postmaster General, Sydney, referring to the air mail crash afc Koepang, said that the experimental flights with mails to Australia had been planned h.v the Imperial Airways, and the responsibility for completing the flight wits now with that company. The local agents for Imperial Airways expect to receive instructions from London to-night as to whether the Southern Cross is to lie engaged to bring the mails across the Timor Sea to Darwin, where a Quantas plane will connect. AIR MAIL PROPOSALS. (Rechived 10.5 a.m.) SYDNEY. April 21. : Kingston! Smith hopes to reach Koepang on Friday. He is also taking outward Australian mails to Akyab connecting with Imperial Airways plane service from Darwin, to Ito conducted by the Australian National Airways. HONEYMOON TRIP. WELLINGTON. April 19. With his newly-wed wile. Flying Officer E. G. Olsen arrived at Rougotai to-day. from New Plymouth. He is spending his honeymoon trip flying to various places.