AEROPLANE TRAGEDY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 14 January 1931, Page 7

AEROPLANE TRAGEDY

DISASTER IN QUEENSLAND TROUBLE WITH THE ENGINE An appalling tragedy occurred at the aerodrome of .Maryborough, Queensland, on 31st December, when the monoplane Star of Cairns, which was leaving for Brisbane,- nose dived and struck the ground with terrific force. The pilot, Mr B. P. Davidson, was killed instantly. A passenger, Mr Higgins, received injmies from which he died later. The mechanic on board was badly injured. The monoplane, which was owned by Queensland Air Navigation, Limited, arrived at Maryborough in the afternoon from Bundaberg, on two engines The right engine, which had been giving trouble, was attended to immediately on arrival, and the company’s mechanic, who arrived from Brisbane by ’plane, passed the repairs as being satisfactory, and he returned to Brisbane.

Considerable difficulty was experienced in starting the monoplane’s left engine and, after warming it for 20 minutes’, Mr Davidson made a good takcoir, but a short one. The monoplane headed north-east toward the island plantation, and had gone about 400 yards past the aerodrome when it is supposed the engine stalled. Mr Davidson attempted to turn in what appeared to be an endeavour to reach the landing ground. Onlookers say that the machine was about 140 feet in the air when it nose dived and crashed in the street about 200 yards outside of the aerodrome. The three engines were completely wrecked, and the left wing smashed. The right wing appeared to be practically undamaged. Spilled petrol ignited near the wreckage of tbc monoplane, but a boy extinguished the flames with bis blazer before they got any bold. There was great difficulty in extricating the victims from .the wreckage. The actual cause of the accident is a mystery. The pilot was about 35 years of age. He was a son of Vice-Admiral Alexander Percy Davidson, D. 5.0., who was in command of H.M.A.S. Cornwall throughout the Gallipoli campaign, and retired in 1921, two years before his son came to Australia. The son during tlie war was in the Royal Naval Air Service, and was mentioned in despatches for work during a raid on German submarines. When he came to Australia in 1923 he took a complete course of flying at Point Cook, Victoria, and shortly afterwards joined the Air Force in that State. Last March he came to Brisbane and joined the service of the newly-formed Queensland Air Navigation, Limited. He was very popular with the other pilots, who regarded him as a most efficient flier. He was married 18 months ago. Mr lan Henry Higgins was a reporter on the Townsville “Bulletin.” He was 24 years of age. He had no relatives in Australia. The mechanic, William Headland, was sent to hospital suffering from severe shock and abrasions. "