AUCKLAND AEROPLANE WRECKED.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 625, 6 December 1913, Page 5

AUCKLAND AEROPLANE WRECKED.

AVIATOR SERIOUSLY INJURED. The aeroplane belonging to Messrs Sandford and Milier was practically wrecked at New I.ynn, Auckland, on Thursday evening. Mr Sandford was in the pilot's seat, and when attempting to rise from 2 paddock the machine crashed into the corner post of a fence at great The aviator was thrown some distance, and seriously injured. An attempt was made to fly out of the paddock at New Lynn. Willing helpers assisted to wheel the machine back to the far corner so as to give the longest run possible, and the aeroplane was held while momentum was gathering on the engine. When the pull of the machine became too great for the holders, M? Sandford headed for a pmall opening, hoping to rise sufficiently to clear the fence. Unfortunately the machine did not rise high enough, the resuit being that it dashed with full force right on to a corner post. The force of the impact threw Mr Sandford fully 30ft in the air, and he fell on his head, while the forepart of the aeroplane was smashed to matchwood. When picked up, Mr Sandford was unconscious, and remained so for some time. The unfortunate aviator was removed to his home in a motor car. No bones were broken, the injuries consisting of a scalp wound, a lacerated hand, and badly twisted back.