AERIAL TRAGEDY.

Otaki Mail, Volume XXVIII, 12 November 1920, Page 3

AERIAL TRAGEDY.

i j TERRDSLE FATALITY- AT NEW , j PLYMOUTH. CAPTAIN RUSSELL AND TWO PASSENGERS KILLED. New Plymouth, November 11. , A terrible aviation fatality, involving three deaths, occurred near the New Plymouth racecourse shortly after four o'clock this afternoon, when Messrs Walsh Bros.' Avro aeroplane, carrying the pilot and two passengers, crashed and the machine was wrecked, and 'the three occupants killed. The dead are: Captain Richard Kussell, D.F.C., Croix de Guerre, pilot. James Clarke, aged 41, Mayor of New Plymouth. Kathleen Warnoek, aged 24. The Avro, which arrived here on Monday from Palmcrston North, has been engaged daily this week on passenger flights from the racecourse, and Mr Clarke and Miss Warnoek were making a short trip, when the disaster occurred. Prior to the accident Captain Russell gave an exhibition of fancy flying, ■ but when the accident occurred he was making an ordinary passenger flight, and was descending when he crashed. The 'plane had completed its journey, and was descending towards the racecourse, when it was seen to make a sudden topple and rapidly fall, landing with a crash in a paddock not far from file racecourse. When the doctor arrived all were dead. ; The disaster has east a gloom over ■ the town. Picture theatres have been closed, and all fixtures, including the boxing tournament, have been post- . poned.