MISHAP AT WAIPIRO BAY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 3 January 1931, Page 7

MISHAP AT WAIPIRO BAY

PILOT IN HOSPITAL (By Telegraph—Pross Association) GISBORNE, This Day. A mishap occurred to a Commercial Airways aeroplane at Wuipiro Bay Yesterday afternoon as a result of which the pilot, J. Buekeridge, is now in tlio Te Puia Hospital with a cut above the eye, Imt lie is not badly hurt. The aeroplane is considerably damaged. It appears Lliat a machine, a Spartan biplane, left Gisborne about 2 o clock for the coast to undertake passenger flights. Mr Frank Potre, of Wellington, was a passenger with Buekeridge. On arrival at Waipiro Bay the aeroplane was about to land on the beach when it stalled and -hit an empty house, both the occupants being thrown out. Potre was uninjured. . Spectators tihnlc that Mr Buekeridge, after descending low. decided not to take the risk of landing on the beach till the scattered spectators were clear of the strip he proposed to use, and his care for the safety of the public led to the crash. The aeroplane was coming down slowly against the wind, and the pilot apparently changed his mind and began to lift the machine again. The speed was too slow to enable it to clear a Maori dwelling, and with a startling report -from the splintered timbers ' this, machine buried its nose in the kitchen of tlie building. Another accident occurred whilst tno injured aviator was being hurried to hospital, the motor-car crashing into another car at a sharp bend. Both vehicles were damaged. Buekeridge is reported to-day to have been discharged from hospital and to be proceeding to Gisborne.