FLYING DISASTER.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 December 1920, Page 10 (Supplement)

FLYING DISASTER.

FIVE LIVES LOST IN AEROBUS CRASH. A FATHER'S SELF-SACRIFICE. A terrible disaster, involving the loss of five lives and serious injuries to ft sixth person, occurred recently near the Northolt Aerodrome, Middlesex. A two-engined passenger aeroplane belonging to the Central Aircraft Company left Northolt Aerodrome with a pilot and five passengers—two men and three ladies—for a complimentary flying trip around tjhe aerodrome. It had been in the air not more than five minutes when from some unexplained cause the engine gave way, the machine got out of control, and' crashed to earth, over 1000 feet beneath, off Shavell Lane, Hayes,'some little distance from Northolt. The catastrophe was witnessed by many horrified observers, who immediately proceeded with all haste to the scene, where they found that the pilot, two men, and women were killed outright, and that the sixth passenger—who was a girl—was alive, but very badly injured. Enquiries would appear to show, from the position in which the body of exSergeant Rowlands was found, that he sacrificed his life in saving that of his daughter. Helen Rowlands, the sole survivor, who now lies in hospital badly injured. An eye-witness who assisted to remove the girl to Hayes Cottage Hospital, commented upon her remarkable fortitude. I