PLANE CRASHES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 June 1939, Page 6

PLANE CRASHES

ACCIDENT AT HOOD AERODROME PUPIL FLYER SERIOUSLY INJURED. INSTRUCTOR ESCAPES MORE LIGHTLY. As the result of a plane crashing into a fence at the Hood Aerodrome yesterday afternoon at about 3.30 o'clock a pupil. Mr John Morrison, a farmer of Blairlogie, was fairly seriously injured and the pilot-instructor, Mr Frederick McDonald, suffered a scalp wound. The plane, a de Havilland Gipsy Moth ZK-ABE, belonging to the Wairarapa and Ruahine Aero Club was so badlydamaged that it will probably not be rebuilt. The two injured men were both admitted to hospital. The accident occurred when landings were being practised. Several successful landings had been made and the plane was coming down for another landing. There were two fences about ten yards apart, the second of which the plane struck, caused, it is believed, by the machine encountering a down draught. The plane came to rest with its nose in the ground, but fortunately it did not overturn. No one actually saw the accident, though the crash was heard some distance away. The ground staff shortly afterwards noticed the plane on the ground and immediately went to the scene. When they reached the plane they found Mr Morrison assisting the pilot-instructor out of the wreckage. Dr G. Cowie was immediately sum moned and both men were conveyed to hospital. This is the first serious ac : cident at the Hood Aerodrome for some considerable time. This morning it was ascertained that Mr McDonald, who is in the Masterton Hospital, appeared to have escaped with a gash on the forehead but Mr Morrison, who is a patient at Glenwood Private Hospital, is more seriously injured. He suffered serious injury to one eye besides other injuries, the extent of which are not yet known. An operation was performed last night and the damaged eye was removed. Mr Morrison also suffered severe injuries to his nose. The undercarriage, wings and propeller of the plane were badly damaged and the engine also suffered.