SEAPLANE CRASHES

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 59, Issue 229, 30 October 1930, Page 5

SEAPLANE CRASHES

Per Press Association.

OCCUPANTS LUCKY TO ESGAPE. MACHINE TRAVELLING AT 126 MILES PER HOUR.

AUCKLAND, This day, Commenting on the Fairey seaplane's crash in the upper harhour yesterday while it was engaged in a speed test at water level, Squadron-Leader Isitt, who was following in another plane, said that the Fairev's floats suddenly hit the water with terrific force. The machine turned over on her nose and went down like a stone. "I did not tliink the occupants would ever get out alive," sjxid SquadronLeader Isitt. "I could see that they had been taken under and knew that if they had been injured or eaught under the plane they "would never conie up. I immediately alighted and as I did so I saw ^lire© of them swimming arourid. They must have heen qulte two minutes under the water before they struggled free. The'y wOre extramely lucky. All were wearing reed jackets filled with kapok and we never strap ourselves in. To those cir.cnmstance they owe their lives. "The mishap was appai'ently due to an error of judgment hy the pilot. That, liowever, is not a serious thing. It would be in the case of a commercial machuie, carrying passengers. An Aii Force pilot engaged in a legitimate test such as yesterday is entitled to take risks, that would not lie warranted with a commercial machine." It is stated that the plane was travelling at 126 miles an hour when she crashed.