FIVE LIVES LOST

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 August 1938, Page 7

FIVE LIVES LOST

AIR LINER NOSEDIVES IN QUEENSLAND ENGINE STALLS AT LOW ALTITUDE FOUR SURVIVORS INJURED (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Copyright. BRISBANE, August 29. Four passengers and the pilot were killed and four passengers were injured today when a Dragon airliner, owned by North Queensland Airways, crashed from a height of about 350 feet, near Bundoo aerodrome, five miles from Innisfail. All the passengers, except one, belonged to Cairns. The dead are: Mr Henry Murtha, a well-known chemist, Miss Olga Headrick, Miss Elsie Walsh, Miss E. Costin, and the pilot, Mr Benjamin Goodson. Two critically injured are: Mr C. R. Smith and Miss C. Flynn. Two who suffered 'minor injuries are: Mr Alfred Wells and Mr Arthur Valentine. Mr Wells, who lives at Innisfail, is expected to recover.

The aeroplane was en route from Brisbane to Cairns. Eye-witnesses declare that the engine appeared to stall and. the machine lost height. The pilot tried to land, but the plane nose-dived and fell like a rock, dense blue fumes being emitted from the exhaust. Mr Murtha and Miss Headrick were killed instantly. The three others died in hospital. The pilot was a chief instructor at the Kingsford Smith Flying School in Sydney two years ago. He had a fine record.