ALMOST CLEAR

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 364, 27 October 1932, Page 5

ALMOST CLEAR

FLEW STRAIGHT INTO HILL Wellmgton, Wednesday. So far as could be ascertained, tlie smash occurred shortly after four o'clock yesterday afternoon. Although a wristlet watch found on Gresser stopped at 3.35 and the face of the watch was smashed, possibly the watch did not stop at the time of the smash, but continued to run until it ran down. When the searchers arrived at the top of the hill, the full extent of the mishap was tragically apparent. The aeroplane was completely wrecked, the engine heing torn from the chassis and embedded in the ground several feet away. Gresser's hody was lying under the left wing of the aeroplane, and Iving's hody which was a few yards away, Avas also covored with wreckage. This is the second mishap in which Gresser was concerned, the previous occasion being on Marcli 20 last, when an Avro aeroplane, of which he was part owner, piloted hy Mr. F. McDonald, was compelled to make a forced landing at Plimmei'ton. On that occasion, hdwever, nobody was hurt. The theory generally held by officials of the aero club is that the pilot tuined back from Johnsonville shortly after 3.30 and continued north until he estimated he, was over the Porirua Harbour, then he tuxrned seaward, seeking clearer conditions, but having misjudged the distance, erashed into the hill top. Only another five feet would have been necessary to clear the hill. It is evident that the machine had flown straight into the hillside and had not fallen from above. The two victims of the crash will be given a combined funeral^on Friday afternoon.