AIR SMASH

Hokitika Guardian, 22 September 1932, Page 6

AIR SMASH

j PLANE HITS HOUSE. I BOTH CATCH FIRE. (Pef Press Association-- Copyright.) I WELLINGTON, September 22. ./ 'A j “Moth” plan© belonging to the ’Wellington Aero Club, when returning from the Litvin Aero 'Club’s pageant this morning crashed into a house in Lallanc e Stycet, JohnsonviHe, at about eighfi o’clock?- and burst into irinms, and thp cobber o.f the house caught 'fire. »' yJL- . - Tfie plane ; 4f»6 occupied by A. L. DetohrettesL iifid L. F. Taylor, both men Nh| members of Wellington Aero! Clutj.jp! ‘' Deitourettfss! apart from shock and burns on suffered little injury, but -Taylor' was extensively burned, almost all over his body. He lies m Bowen Street hospital in a serious condition. Detourettes was abl e to be taken home. It (would appear from the -story of one leye 'witness that engine trouble Lad developed and that an attempt was being made to land, either on the recreation ground or on the schoo* playing ground nearby, and that the pilot was waving for the grouud to .be cleared, but could not obtain a clear landing. . . ,’. p xiie house into which the machine ‘qr ashed is'.occupied by V. A. Mills. The fire was suppressed by JohneofivUle volunteer brigade. Non e of the inmates wore injured.

A , further details. \ WELLINGTON, September 22. , .The plane ( was completely destroyed by Ithe 'bla ! »e.; J The engine was left embedded on. the verandah of the (.house. Ah eye witness said that the machine came front a north easterly direction, flvmg low; at va -comparatively slow Lpeed. It -passed over his ' house and then circled, coming over his house again in a sfeep left-hand bank. This time the right wing brushed some tail cabbage trees in his garden. The machine 'continued add was turning again, the pilot apparently as a last resource endeavouring to 1 land in the road. The right wing struck a powerpole and cut the wires down, thV•slewing the machine round and it made .straight over Mid s’ house. Although the. striking of the power wires must have retarded; >its speed somewhat, the impact with ‘the house was Wy severe, the machine crashing through a wall of .an office on the verandah and ( buret'mg through the -watl of the .hoyrie, throwing a heavy wardrobe in "a.rfiom on the bed. This room is the ,roo|n ' senior, who is nearly 'l’-gji .huJUfor-tunatfily., M ■was, not-;-:It ap^^*lmpl)ht : Piii“eftes-.prior..to (engine MSSfe' developing, was flying . the machine from the back seat. When (.tfeef trouble arose, Taylor, who is a pMhty-' , T®oK ••oYei’: the controls in front,