'PLANE CRASHES

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 113, 5 January 1932, Page 5

'PLANE CRASHES

(Special to "Post.")

HASTINGS MACHINE WRECKED WHEN LANDING AT TAUPO CAUGHT BY AIR CURRENT

TAUPO, Monday. While two Gypsy Moth 'planes belonging to the Hawke's Bay and East Coast Aero Club were landing at Taupo this morning, one of them struck a strong air current which forced down the nose of the maehine, causing it to crash in manuka scrub at the North end of the landing ground. The pilot was thrown clear, and although dazed, escaped without injury. . One of the 'planes had already landed and the second maehine was following it closely. In order to give greater clearance, however, the second pilot endeavoured to rise again, but was caught by a violent downward air current which forced the maehine down. Even then, the 'plane might have escaped without serious damage had the left hand wheel not struck a large stump which doubled it up under the under-carriage. This had the effeet of capsizing the maehine, breaking the propellor and tearing the wing fabric. The pilot quickly recovered and later supervised the dismantling of the maehine for removal by lorry to Hastings. On Sunday, about 110011, another Hastings 'plane had a narrow escape, when two bolts on the eylinder head broke as the maehine was leaving the ground. The pilot, however, sueceeded in landing without mishap.