FATAL AIR CRASH

Hokitika Guardian, 30 October 1933, Page 5

FATAL AIR CRASH

BLENHEIM' INQUEST CONSIDERABLE EVIDENCE HEARD (Per Prbss Association — CopyriOht.) BLENHEIM, October 28. A graphic story of the tragic fligat in an uncontrollable aeroplane was told at the resumed inquest this afternoon into the death, after a crash at Blenheim aerodrome on September 24, of Edgar Thomas Maindonald, of Beef to n, aged 29. The Coroner, Mr E. J Hill, in returning a verdict of accidental death, said the evidence disclosed that the pilot, Mr A. E. Willis, deserved commendation for his presence of ih-nd, and his aviation skill and the nerve he displayed. He said: “In my opinion he did everything humanly possible in the circumstances. With a less experienced pilot the tragedy miMit have been much more appalling. The formal evidence disclosed that the aeroplane had been thoroughly examined by Flight-Lieut. Bolt, of the Wellington Aerodrome, at the request of the Marlborough Aero Club, on the Friday before the accident, And ‘it was then in good order and only flew one and a-half hours afterwards before the crash* . .. ’ The medical evidence : was tjhat death was due to ?K fracture of : the skull, . lj-' . "h ; • Bert Tan Cummings, contractor, Ikamatua, who was a passenger in the plane, described how the party '.left Blenheim on the morning of Saturday, Sept. 23 for 'Wellington, where they spent the day. The following morning they left pin the return journey to Blenheim. Willis piloted the plane on both occasions. On the way to Wellington the plane functioned perfectly and also on the way back up to within a few minutes before landing. : - . Sergeant Peterson: “What did your, notice then?” ' : j • “I noticed'that the plane was inclined to dive as soon as the power was shut off.” \ -“Did the pilot try to draw your attention to anything after you .noticed that the plane was not behaving as usual ? “He tried to, but we could hot hear what he was saying. We realised something was wrong And concluded that .that was what he was trying to tell us. , \, “Have you any idea of the elevation you were ,at when the pilot last shut off the power?” | “I don’t know. T was well down in, ss, what was coming.” . m “You tied yourself up in a ball, ready for a crash?”—Yes. /• ; The pilot of the ill-fated plane, Alexander Estcourt Willis, stated .that on the day proceeding the. crash, lie piloted the same mael ine to Wellington with deceased and Cummings as passengers. They returned on 'Sunday, The Sergeant: Prior to leaving Wellington, did you test the controls?” “Yes. About opposite the entrance to Pprt- Underwood, I first noticed then was something wrong. I found immediately that the elevator control • was not working as it should. That was at an elevation of about 5,500 feet. T tried to notify Cummings, who was sitting immediately in fiiont of me. that something was wrong. Then I thro ft,led back the engine, -and the machine went into a steep dive. 1 I immediately opened the throttle again wide. The nose ;came up gradually and the machine levelled out. Then I derided the only way to get down was by working the engine and coming down in a series of short dives, which I did. When the machine was over the aerodrome, I gave the engine a final burst to level the machine and then switched off the fgifi'tion. Tire machine started to dive again, and it bit the ground, I should say, at an angle of 45 degrees. Of its movements- on the ground I dont- kr?o\v.” The Sergeant: “It was too erratic to follow? I “It was rolling about inside 'it when the machine came to rest. I pulled tlie nassergers clear, and then ran for assistance.” Squadron Leader T. M. Wilkes, Controller of Civil Aviation, gave evidence of his 'inspection of the damage to the machine on the afternoon of the accident. The Coroner: “To what, do you ascribe the accident.” “That is what I am trying to find out. The accident- could have been caused by a snlit pin coming out of tho shackle and the,shackle becoming deta tolled. but it could have been due to there being no split pin in the first place. \ “I want vour opinion of whether | the jV.lofc did everything possible to j make laming with the least ill effects?” “T think he put up a very excellent showing.” Mr O’Regan: “None of us is here to sav anything to the contrary, sir,” After cross-examination ro. further evidence was offered by the police, and the Coroner returned the verdict stated.