WORKS DEPARTMENT PLANE CRASHES

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5311, 25 January 1947, Page 5

WORKS DEPARTMENT PLANE CRASHES

( Press Assn-

TWO MBN KILLF.D DROPPING OF SUPPLIES NEAR LAKE MONOWAI

—By Telegraph — Copyright.)

INVERCARGILL, Last Night. Two men suffered fatal injuries when a Percival Proctor aircraft owned by the Public Works Department crashed in the Glebe Valley in rugged bush country 12 miles from the head of Lake Monowai early this morning. They were Oliver Anderson, pilot of the aircraft, and Peter Symonds, a passenger. The plane, which was engaged in flying supplies from Lake Monowai to the Public Works deer killers' camp on the Glebe River, left Black Mount on the Tuatapere side of the "laike at about six o'clock for Glebe Valley. Full information of the aecident has not been received, but it is thought that the engine of the plane cut out as it was aseending after dropping supplies, and that the machine stalled. It was Mr. Anderson's second flight over the area, the supply service being a comparatively new one. The aecident was reported by Mr. William Deer from the deer stalkers' cfamp. He discovered the wreckage just before eight o'clock. It is believed that Mr. Anderson died almost immediately. Mr. Deer left for the power stati'on, arriving about noon. A party under the leadex*ship of Dr. W. B. Reekie, of Ota'utau, axxd Mr. Mills, Field Officer of the Departixxent of 'Intex'nal Affairs, left for the scene. An ambulance was dispatched fx-om the Southland Hospital. Both oecupants of the , plane were dead when the pai'ty reached the scene. The wreckage of the plane was strewn for some idistance, but there had been no fire. The search party is expected to return to the lake about 3 a.m. to-morrow.