COMRADE IN MID-AIR

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 141, 5 September 1927, Page 10

COMRADE IN MID-AIR

A TERRIBLE PLIGHT PARACHUTIST’S DEATH NARRATIVE OF THE PILOT By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright LONDON, Saturday. An inquest was held to-day concerning the death of the airman Lothian at Farnborough on August 30, in an attempt to descend from an aeroplane with a parachute. Deceased had accompanied Flight-Lieutenant Hodgson (not Hudson, as previously cabled) on the fatal flight. The parachute

caught in the tail of the machine. In the course of his evidence, Lieutenant Hodgson said he went up on the day of the accident in order to test his instruments, including a low altimeter. . Lothian was nervous. Before the flight he was shivering all over, but he recovered when they were flying. He had been similarly nervous on three former flights. On the last of these he had asked witness to

do a stunt so that he could see what it was like. “We were flying at a height of 400 feet on the day of the accident,” said Lieutenant Hodgson, “when the tail of the plane sank. The controls were difficult to move. I saw Lothian hanging from the parachute strings. I twice stalled almost into a spin in the hope that Lothian would be able to climb up the rope. This was very risky, because if a spin had developed there would r t have been room to use my own n \ chute. I tried flying faster in ordei to tighten the strings and give Lothian a chance to climb to the tail, but I could not assist him owing to the stiffness of the controls. “I determined to land, and I descended almost vertically. Switching off the engine, the plane only ran about 10 yards. I believe Lothian fell out while he was attempting to reach the parachute, which fell overboard.” A verdict of accidental death was returned. The jury complimented Lieutenant Hodgson upon his skill. — Sun. ~