Plane Crash Reported

Hokitika Guardian, 21 November 1933, Page 5

Plane Crash Reported

The plane flew over Kumara, and disappeared in the clouds near Wainihinihi, and a little later the'engine was heard to stop, this being followed shortly by a crash in the vicinity of Mt, Turiwhate.

Search parties N from Hokitika, Greymouth and intervening districts are concentrated in the vicinity.

Late yesterday afternoon the rumour

was current that ah accident had be-

fallen the plane, and this wa 8 later confirmed upon the receipt of inform, ation from various sources. The news

Was quickly circulated, and before long practically the whole town was aware of the circumstances', and many people set out immediately in cars for , the locality, whither a large crowd wore already assembling from "all parts of the district. The accident occurred abou 2.30 o’clock yesterday afternoon, and is believed to have occurred on Mt. Turiwhate on the south side of. the Christchurch road, about eleven’ or twelve miles from Kumara.

The plane had le.t Hokitika at about 2.15 p.m., fqr the return flight; to \yigram, and went north-east, in which direction it was considered the best visibility would be obtained owing to the poor flying conditions prevailing. Heavy fog was met with, which considerably hampered the pilot’s navigation, while low-lying clouds further handicapped the pilot, the latter being very dense around and above Turiwhate. Conditions on the other side of the ranges were good, and it was, only on this account that the flight was undertaken.

Mr J. A. Murdoch, of Hokitika, organised another party this morning to I search the Kawhaka side of Mt. Turii wha’te, and also the valley , on the j Kawhaka race, where there are several I flats, upon which the plane might have come clown, and from which ta e occupants of the machine ’ might not know their way out. The plane, Z.K. AAI, was one of the Canterbury Aero Club’s fleet of Moths, in which Pilot Renton left Christchurch oil Saturday last for Blenheim and Nelson, having Mr J. D. Lynch as a passenger. They left Nelson oil Sunday and arrived at Hokitika shortly before 5 o’clock that afternoon, Plane Loaves Hokitika, The plane ■■ was required back at Christchurch as soon as possible, and as flying conditions on tile Christchurch side were reported yesterday afternoon to be favourable, an attempt was made to make the journey across, though it was.known that foggy conditions were prevailing. It was the intention of the pilot to.make the attempt, but if the conditions did not improve, to return to Hokitika. The plane, with Mr J. D. Lynch as passenger, left Hokitika aerodrome at 2.5 p.m. It appeared to be in perfect order.

Mr Renton is an experienced pilot, and with. his wide knowledge of the crossing from west to east, he was apparently convinced of the futility of jirocceding ‘further and having mind of the extreme care necessitated under such flying conditions decided to return, as the plane was seen to circle round and head back to Hokitika.

The poor visibility evidently concealed from Mr Renton .the immediate presence of Mt. TuHwliate, ahd It is considered that he has struck the moun-tain-side, ; < • First Report of Own, The plane \v% heard by Mr Michael Treacy, whose home is situated at the foot of Mt. Turiwhate, by members of the Treacy family, and by other residents in the vicinity. Mr Treacy said that the mountain wa s enveloped by thick fog at tile time which did nor permit of the plane being seen, but the throb of the engine was. easily discernible giving him, and others who heard it, a fair indication of the direction in which it was travelling. The plane was headed east, but later changed direction, and it jappeared to ', have flown round, and was heading back to Hokitika, where conditions were quite satisfactory to enable a landing. The plane turned to the left and it seemed as if it veered into the hillside, while the fog would conceal the close proximity of the mountain to the flyers. The noise of the loud crash was heard bv Mr Treacy. It i ;S contended that lack of altitude was responsible in measure for the accident.

When the plane left Hokitika, she ascended to a veny considerable height, and set out in a north-easterly direction. Word had previously been received that flying conditions in Canterbury were good, and a s she disappeared from view, several beholders felt quite confident that the plane would have a successful trip, there being no ,'fear that the fogginess along the foothills of the main range would prove to be impenetrable as it eventually did.

Mr Treacy. notified the Kumara Post Office of the happening, and set out immediately on his own to investigate, leaving instructions - fur a' search party to be summoned, and dispatched without lossj of time. Search Party Sets Out. A second party, including Mr Paul Kenton, senr., father of the pilot, left some little time later headed by the Teen . brothers, and was composed of residents of the district and volunteers from Kumara and Hokitika. To roach the spot where Mr Treacy considered that the plane had crashed • is a very strenuous climb, th e summit of Mount Turiwhate being 4,480 feet 1 above sea level, and to reach this it . would be. necessary to climb to the ridge of the mountain and travel along it for some distance, and, if he -could get across the ridge, it w;a s . Mr Treacy’s intention to come back and meet the party and take them over.' Prom the foot of tile slope dense bush is encountered., right up until near the summit, where the bush line stops, and then there is nothing but scrub and then absolutedly bare ‘rock. The search party went out on the mountain/well provided for a night’s ordeal, but after four hours’ hard work, the searchers all returned to Treacy’s homestead, reporting that they had been unable to sec any sign of the plane. Jt was rumoured that the. crash was followed by an explosion, but this has since been denied: a* no explosion wn s heard by anybody in the vicinity. Search Parlies Organised. .Other parties wore organised from different parts of the district, and from 3.30 o’clock This morning onwards, the Bearchers set out in different direct:

Mr Mercer Expected. Advice was received in Hokitika this morning that Mr J. C. Mercer would arrive from Christchurch to-day, via Nelson, but hi s arrival will depend upon the weather. With a change in conditions, the presence of planes in assisting in the search would he of the utmost benefit, but while the present conditions prevail, their work is considerably hampered. 1 Volunteers for Search. Sergeant C. J. King this morning paid tribute to the spontaneous manner in which men had volunteered to aid in the search, inquiries being received from many parts of the district. Mr Jack Renton. Mr Jack B. Renton, tjie pilot, is one of the foremost young pilots in the district, making rapid strides in his training. A pupil of Mr J. C. Mercer, instructor to the Canterbury Aero Club, ho has 100 hours’ flying time to his credit, and ha s *- just secured his B passenger license. It was only on Saturday that he completed his refresher course at Wigram. He i s a familiar figure in aviation in Hokitika, and has ?requently made the crossing cf the Alps. His flying ability has gained him much respect among his brother pilots. Mr J. D. Lynch. Mr J. D. Lynch was born at Hold- j tika. where lie joined the Bank of Nov; Zealand, and lie was stationed at different times at Ahaura, Greymouth, and Hokitika again as manager. He then resigned from the bank and took over the auctioneering firm of Messrs

■,'y'l ' ■ r/ ■ ■(■{( At, 1 -— ; TRAGEDY FEARED AT TURIWHATE J. B. RENTON AND J. D. LYNCH INVOLVED INTENSIVE SEARCH BEING MADE Grave fears’ are Held for the safety of Mr J. B. Rendon, of Hokitika, who left here yesterday afternoon in a Canterbury Aero Club Moth plane, N.Z. AAI., with Mr J. D. Lynch, of Christchurch, and formerly of Hokitika as passenger. The pair had flown from Wigram to Hokitika via Nelson, during the week-end, and yesterday afternoon they took off for Christchurch to complete the round trip.

ions, each party concentrating on the aproximate spot where th e crash is said to have occurred. The response for men to assist in the search was ; spontaneous, and a number of young fellows from Hokitika set out early this morning, Mr J. S. Langford last evening left with a party iroiff Hokitika, while the men at his company’s mines nearby the scene were ready to take pan this morning. Among many others who are assisting in the search are members of the Westland and Greymouth Aero Clubs, and employees of the State Forest camps. At the. Treacy homestead are many willing helpers including Messrs J. B. Flynn and F. J. Adain s (ground engineers at Hokitika), and Constable Wilton, of Kumara.’ Heavy rain fell on Turiwhate throughout the night and considerably hainoered the work of the searchers the second party of whom returned after four hours, but preparations were made for an intense search on a wide scale thi s morning. Last'night’s searchers suffered a gruelling experience, but were none the worse for it, and were all eager to resume this morning.

Mark Sprot and Co., of Hokitika, later trailsfeiring to Cleymouth. A few month-s ago lie retired from the auctioneering business, and with his family, went to reside in Christchurch., Upon his arrival in Hokitika on Sunday afternoon, Mr Lynch paid high tribute to tile manner in which Mr Renton had piloted the machine on the flight from Christchurch to Hokitika, via Nelson. Mr Lynch was the guest or Mr W. E. Williams, of Hokitika during his brief stay in Hokitika. Mr Nancekivell’s Opinion.

Mr A. H. Nancekivell said that the plane appeared to be in perfect order .when it left Hokitika yesterday afternoon. Upon taking off irom the aerodrome at South Hokitika, it flew over the town, and then made for altitude. He also was of the opinion that Mr Renton, upon finding it impossible to makq the crossing of the Alps, had decided to return, and, in edging close to the fog-surrounded Turiwhate had encountered a bank of clouds against the mountain-side, and would have flown through this until the plane crashed •on the mountain side. Mr Nancekivell considered the plane would be flying at a height of 4000' feet.at tb e ' t®me of the crash, and, if h e had cleared the clouds, would have taken bis compass course to Christchurch. Leaving here he had flown north-east-j orly, where the sky wa s lighter, and I on his apparent return, he had veered ! off to the south-west, going moi’o to i the south than he perhaps should have j done, and thus bringing the plane into i the region of the lower clouds. | The widespread concern felt for the | safety of the occupants of the plan© ! was reflected this morning in the continual, inquiries that were being received for the latest reports from I Turiwhate. Reports from Kumara at 11.45 a.m. l to-day stated that fifty men had left on the search, the first comprising eight picked men, travelling light, under Mr M. Tracey leaving at about 4 a.m. Parties continued to depart until 10 a.m. A party from Greymouth was on the way to the locality while several others were being organised. THE LOCALITY. Mt Turiwhate on the locality plans, is given as 4482 feet high. It is of considerable extent on the summit, broadening out as it works _ iff an i easterly direction. There are smallJ tarns located on the summit towards J Wainihinihi. The trig track, the only ; ■ defined route to the top, is situated j. between Turiwhate and Graham Creeks ; which take their risa from the mountain. J Two other streams. Fitzgerald and j ’ Rangiriri, also rise on the Christchurch j i road side of the,mountain, 'being further : erst than the two first mentioned. 1 There are several streams rising from the mountain on the opposite gide, the approach to which would be by the Kawhaka track along the old , Water i-ace,,

■Mt. Turiwhate has been used as a sheep run, the open spaces on the lop {affording a good Supply of food. Tracy’s homestead is (near the commencement of the trig track to the summit.

LOCAL ACTIVITIES

Whe t)1 the .news of a suspected dis-

aster wag received early last, evening, friends were su°n active in organising search parties, and two or three cars departed at once with willing volunteers, land on. reading Tracy’s the search began. Several searchers came also from Kumara and Greymouth, while all available local residents were early on the move, end as much ground as possible was covered before darkness set in.

This morning, further -searchers left Hokitika for the scene, but at 4,30 a.m. those already at Turiwhate, were out again on t-h e hilf chmb. The. r-d----ditional relief reached Turiwhate at 7 a.m. and lost no time in joining in the search of the high country. Heavy rain throughout the nio'ht and the wet overcast weather to-day does not help the search. Fog. appears to be hanging on the high hills, where visibility is very had, and only a short distance can be examined at a time.

Further reports from the locality confirm the statements of the residents that the plane was clearly heal’d, followed by a heavy crash like the-falling ■of a tree. One report said that the sound of a dull explosion followed.

Dr Lynch, son of Mr ,T. D. Lynch, tekpahonexl le'irly this morning from Wellington, for the latest news. in order that he might arrange to depart for the -Coast. Only meagre particulars could be supplied, and he was .advised to wait for later information. Dr Lynch proposed to cross the Straits by aeroplane to Nelson and motor- to Hokitika, hut. these .arrangements are suspended pending further- developments.