Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 1, 2024 23:02:22 GMT 12
The Press, 22 January 1976
Freak mid-air ’plane crash
(N.Z. Press Association) HAMILTON, Jan. 21.
Five people, including a girl and two youths taking part in a flying school at Waharoa, escaped unhurt from a million-to-one mid-air collision which tore off part of one aircraft’s wing.
The collision happened about 300 m above Matamata airfield about 6 p.m. yesterday. A twin-engined Piper Seneca owned by the Ministry of Transport’s Civil Aviation Division with three people aboard had part of its right wing snapped off after the collision with a flying school Airtourer.
The flying school director (Mr Frank Brittain) said that the collision was a “one in a million” accident. It was an accident which just couldn't have happened but did, he said.
Both aircraft were joining the circuit at the same point, he said. Because they were flying into the sun, the faster Seneca didn’t see the Airtourer in front and caught up on it.
“It was very fortunate there were two very experienced pilots involved,’’ Mr Brittain said.
“They were trained to cope with an emergency like this and all procedures were followed exactly.”
The Seneca, piloted by an Auckland Civil Aviation flight testing officer, Mr Henry Brielby, was rejoining the circuit above the airfield after a trip from Auckland. Two Auckland venturer scouts from the tenth annual Walsh memorial flying school were also aboard the plane.
Both youths, aged about 20, Alan Scott and Chris Kreisbaum, had qualified as pilots after attending the flying school at Waharoa.
The Seneca apparently hit the Airtourer on the left engine cowling. After the accident it crash landed in a farm paddock about 4km from the airfield.
The plane blasted an 8m-wide hole in a barbary hedge and stopped with its left wing tip ablaze. The fire was soon extinguished, although the plane was extensively damaged in the accident
The three occupants were shaken but not injured. The Airtourer suffered only minor damage and landed at the airfield. It was a dual-instruction aircraft on loan to the school from the Rotorua Aero Club.
It was piloted by an Auckland N.A.C. pilot, Mr Bruce McNair, and a 17-year-old Himatangi ranger, Miss Lee Alexander, was the only other occupant.
A Waharoa farmer, Mr George Guest, saw the Seneca fly low over his farm south of Waharoa after the accident and disappear behind a hedge on a neighbouring property. “It was revving and seemed to be trying to avoid landing in the town.” The hedge cushioned the plane's impact, he said.
Emergency services were alerted from the airfield after Mayday calls were received from the two planes.
The airfield's sole crash tender met the Airtourer at the end of the runway and then went to the Seneca.
The Auckland inspector of air accidents flew to Waharoa early today to inspect the two aircraft.
Mr Brittain said flight training at the school was not affected by the accident.
Freak mid-air ’plane crash
(N.Z. Press Association) HAMILTON, Jan. 21.
Five people, including a girl and two youths taking part in a flying school at Waharoa, escaped unhurt from a million-to-one mid-air collision which tore off part of one aircraft’s wing.
The collision happened about 300 m above Matamata airfield about 6 p.m. yesterday. A twin-engined Piper Seneca owned by the Ministry of Transport’s Civil Aviation Division with three people aboard had part of its right wing snapped off after the collision with a flying school Airtourer.
The flying school director (Mr Frank Brittain) said that the collision was a “one in a million” accident. It was an accident which just couldn't have happened but did, he said.
Both aircraft were joining the circuit at the same point, he said. Because they were flying into the sun, the faster Seneca didn’t see the Airtourer in front and caught up on it.
“It was very fortunate there were two very experienced pilots involved,’’ Mr Brittain said.
“They were trained to cope with an emergency like this and all procedures were followed exactly.”
The Seneca, piloted by an Auckland Civil Aviation flight testing officer, Mr Henry Brielby, was rejoining the circuit above the airfield after a trip from Auckland. Two Auckland venturer scouts from the tenth annual Walsh memorial flying school were also aboard the plane.
Both youths, aged about 20, Alan Scott and Chris Kreisbaum, had qualified as pilots after attending the flying school at Waharoa.
The Seneca apparently hit the Airtourer on the left engine cowling. After the accident it crash landed in a farm paddock about 4km from the airfield.
The plane blasted an 8m-wide hole in a barbary hedge and stopped with its left wing tip ablaze. The fire was soon extinguished, although the plane was extensively damaged in the accident
The three occupants were shaken but not injured. The Airtourer suffered only minor damage and landed at the airfield. It was a dual-instruction aircraft on loan to the school from the Rotorua Aero Club.
It was piloted by an Auckland N.A.C. pilot, Mr Bruce McNair, and a 17-year-old Himatangi ranger, Miss Lee Alexander, was the only other occupant.
A Waharoa farmer, Mr George Guest, saw the Seneca fly low over his farm south of Waharoa after the accident and disappear behind a hedge on a neighbouring property. “It was revving and seemed to be trying to avoid landing in the town.” The hedge cushioned the plane's impact, he said.
Emergency services were alerted from the airfield after Mayday calls were received from the two planes.
The airfield's sole crash tender met the Airtourer at the end of the runway and then went to the Seneca.
The Auckland inspector of air accidents flew to Waharoa early today to inspect the two aircraft.
Mr Brittain said flight training at the school was not affected by the accident.
