ENGINE STOPPED

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20495, 11 May 1938, Page 8

ENGINE STOPPED

HORRIFIED SPECTATORS IN TROUBLE FROM START WING SNAPS TREE TRUNK (Special to Times.) AUCKLAND, Wednesday. The air liner Kotare, which crashed at Mangere yesterday, was in difficulties from the start. Officials of Union Airways and the Auckland Aero Club, as well as a number of other spectators, noticed that the starboard motor stopped just as the machine cleared the runway toward the south-west, and, with only the port engine working, the Kotare was swung violently to starboard. Straight toward the Auckland Aero Club's hangar, which was hastily vacated by the staff, the monoplane sped, still with her landing-wheels in the extended position. Brilliant flying by Commander Duthie, which was the subject of glowing references by experts who saw it, lifted the Kotare to clear the top of the hangar by & small margin. Horrified spectators watched her heading round toward tall trees on the property of Mrs Roussel. The port wing struck one of the tallest trees, snapped it cleanly 40ft from the ground, and the monoplane plunged to earth. Fire followed in an instant. “We Could Do Nothing” “A great crash was followed by the machine and young pine trees into which it had fallen bursting into flames,” said an eye-witness. “The three of us went over together, but found it impossible to get near the aeroplane. We could do nothing.” Wreckage of the Kotare was still smouldering when the afternoon machine from Wellington, another Lockheed, arrived at Mangere at 2-30 o'clock. She was exactly on time, and passengers who arrived after an uneventful journey left the aerodrome without realising that the wreckage of a sister-ship was lying Just out of sight in a gully. The flight of the Kotare yesterday was one of the comparatively few on which the monoplanes on the Auck-land-Wellington service have left Mangere with no passengers. Careers of Pilots Commander Duthie was appointed to the position of pilot-instructor to the Middle Districts Aero Club, Palmerston North, a post previously held by the late Squadron-Leader M. C. McGregor. He joined the staff of Union Airways in 1935 and was appointed a first pilot in the company's Palmerston Nortli-Dunedin service on March 20, 1936. He was with Union Airways when the Wellington-Auckland service was inaugurated and was a copilot with Commander B. A. Blythe In the Lockheed-Electra monoplane Kuaka, which flew on a test’ flight from Auckland to Wellington and back in June, 1937. Mr J. Peel was born at Masterton 24 years ago and received his first flying training as a member of the Hawke’s Bay and East Coast Aero Club. His total flying time was slightly in excess of 600 hours. Since l joining the staff of Union Airways in 1937 he had served as a co-pilot on the Auckland-Wellington service. MR SAVAGE’S SYMPATHY COMPANY’S FIRST ACCIDENT (By Telegrapn.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Tuesday Sincere sympathy with the relatives of the two pilots who lost their lives in the accident to the Union Airways monoplane was expressed this evening by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage. ‘’Words can hardly express one’s feelings at the loss of life in the unfortunate occurrence,” said Mr Savage. ‘‘The company concerned has been remarkably successful, running without accident up to to-day. Had there been a number of passengers aboard the air-liner the consequences might have been much more serious, but our sympathy goes out to the relatives of the two men, who were the main instruments in carrying on the service.” INQUEST OPENED ADJOURNED SINE DIE (By Telegraph.—Press Association) AUCKLAND, Wednesday, The inquest on the victims of the air tragedy Messrs Duthie and Peel, was opened this morning before Mr F. N. Hunt, coronerAfter evidence of identification had been given by Mr Gordon Kenneth Mackenzie, traffic officer of the Union Airways Auckland, the inquiry was adjourned Sine die. INQUIRY OPENED INSPECTION OF WRECKAGE (By Telegraph.—Press Association) AUCKLAND, Wednesday An Inquiry into the cause of the crash was opened at the scene of the fatality to-day, when the wreckage was inspected by Squadron-Leader Olsen, officer in charge of the Hobsonville air base, Mr F. Farrell, assistantinspector of aircraft for the Air Department. Wellington, and officers of the Union Airways. No statement has been made but the inspection is still proceeding. Mr F. Maurice Clarke, manager of Union Airways, Mr L. Mangham, chief engineer, and Comm?mder Blythe, chief pilot, both of the Union Airways, arrived by the liner Kuaka from Wellington to-day, and were present at the inspection. The Kuaka also brought several passengers from Wellington, Palmerston and New Plymouth, including women and a youne girl.