Drama Over Cook Strait

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 33, 9 February 1937, Page 7

Drama Over Cook Strait

Nurse Leaps 2500 Feet to Death FORCED DOOR OF PLANE OPEN Per Press Association. BLENHEIM, Last Night. Forcing open the door of the Marlborough Aero Club’s Waco cabin plane while the pilot endeavoured to maintain control of the machine and at the same time check her tragic action, Miss Viva Maud Farmar, the sole passenger, fell to her death in the middle of Cook Strait from a height of 2500 feet this morning. Agod between 40 and 50, the deceased was theatre sister and dispenser at Wairau Hospital, Blenheim. She was also an experienced aeroplane pilot and the holder of a licence. So far no evidence has been discovered to account for the dramatic occurrence.

At the commencement of the illstarred (Tight, Miss Farmar appeared perfectly normal and cheerful. She was beginning a fortnight’s holiday leave and had booked her passage .by Cook Strait Airways for Wellington. This morning, however, at 8 a.m. she rang the Aero Club with the object of hiring a Moth to take her across the the Strait. Ascertaining that PilotOfficer A. E. Willis was going to Wellington in the Waco to pick up passengers there, she decided to travel with him and concelled her seat in the service plane at 8.40. The Waco, with Mr Willis at the controls and Miss Farmar seated alongside him, took off at 9.5 for Wellington. Miss Farmar appeared her usual carefree self, joking with the pilot in the most natural manner. After the machine had left the ’oast, Miss Farmar remarked that she wanted to get her bag and moved to the rear seat. Next, Mr. Willis felt an inrush of air and the machine slewed. Looking round, he saw his passenger with the door—which opens against the wind —partly open and trying to torce it further open. Flying conditions were bumpy but, keeping Gne hand on the controls, Mr. Willis rtaohed back and grasped Miss Farmar who, however, wrenched her* self free and, flinging herself against the door, went hurtling into space. Mr. Willis throttled the engine back and followed the body down until it disappeared into the sea, which was rough. lie circled the spot for some time, but fa : le.d to see the body again so returned to Blenheim and reported die affuir. The plane wJI be inspected and the door tested by the Government aviation inspector before an inquest is field. The deceased had a long period of service with the Hospital Board. As a member of the Aero Club she was high*7 popular and a competent pilot with much cross-country flying to her credit.

NO REASON DISCOVERED FOR TRAGIC ACT. HAD OVER 100 HOURS’ FLYING EXPERIENCE. BLENHEIM, Last Night. No reason has yet fieen advanced hj those closely associated with ner for the action of Sister V. W. Farmar in forcing open the door of the Marlborough Aero Club’s Waco cabin ’plane and plunging to her death 2500 feet above Cook Strait. From all accounts, including that of Pilot-Officer A. E. Willis, who was in charge of the machine, she was in a happy and cheerful mood before she entered the ’plane. Mr. Willis, who was obviously deeply affected by the incident, said this evening that he had taken Nurse Farmar to the aerodrome and on the way there site discussed cheerfully the tennis tournament that had been held over the week-end between the Wellington aud Marlborough Clubs on the Marlborough courts. She liad taken a leading part in arranging for the entertainment of the visitors, including supervising the provision of afternoon tea and supper, and she had talked of the week-end in a cheerful and vivacious way, displaying not the slightest sign that she was under mental stress. “When we were about half way over the /Strait,” said Mr. Willis, ‘‘she remarked that she wanted to get something from a handbag which was lying in the rear seat. Little movement was necessary for her to get it, and I had no hesitation in allowing her to move from her seat, particularly because she had plenty of experience of flying. ‘ ‘She shifted to the rear seat and the next I knew was that there was a draught in the ’plane. I JooKed round and saw that the door was open and Nurse Farmar was in tho act of jumping. I tried to reach her but she eluded me and she went through ihe d'.or before I could do anything more. “The whole thing happened almost in a second. I got the ’plane under control again for it needed immediate attention and I went down to about 50 feet but could see nothing. Hho disappeared immediately she hit the sea and after flying round for some time I decided tho best thing I could do was to return to Blenheim and report as soon as I could.”

Contact was made with the civil aviation authorities soou after the ’plane landed aud an order was received that it should not bo . nvn until inspected by a departmental officer who this afternoon flew to Blenheim on the airways service, and later accompanied by Flying-Officer Willis (piloting the machine), Mr. A. A. Mac Nab, president of the Marlborough Aero Club, and Constable Smith, went up to test the door of the ’plane. A report will be presented to the Department aud the inquest will be held later, the date being uncertain owing to the a -easily for a reasonable time to elapse in case the body may be recovered, me core-.

ner will then consider the evidence presented by the police and make a. recommendation to the Minister. The tragic occurrence, which is the first of its kind in New Zealand aviation, has deeply affected the members of the Aero Club and hospital staff by whom deceased was highJy regarded. The late Nurse Farmar joined the Wairau Hospital in 1906, later going to Napier and afterwards commencing pijvate nursing. She was with r.ho nursing staff at tho war and rejoined the Wairau staff in 1919. She joined the Marlborough Aero Club in 1929 aud had over 100 hours’ flying experience. She gained her A liccnco (endorsed) and made several cross-country and trans-Strait flights both solo and with companions and was to have competed ut tho pageant to be held at Wanganui phortJy.