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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 18, 2024 21:12:07 GMT 12
From The Press on 4 Jan 1963
PLANE HITS BRIDGE
Pilot Escapes Injury
(NZ Press Association) NAPIER, Jan. 3.
After his plane struck a bridge pylon at Waiohiki, five miles inland from Napier, and overturned, Mr Jerry Alexander Savage, aged 21, of 210 Terrace road, Hastings, walked away unharmed.
He was flying a Wairarapa and Ruahine Aero Club plane from Hastings to Napier at 3.40 o’clock this afternoon when the engine cut out and he decided to land on the river bank. As the plane dropped, the engine caught again, but when he attempted to climb the engine cut out completely.
The plane bumped across the river bed and after striking a bridge pylon, turned over. It was only slightly damaged and was later removed to the Bridge Pa aerodrome.
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Post by Antonio on Apr 18, 2024 21:48:38 GMT 12
Nothing on the Aviation Network site
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Post by thomarse on Apr 21, 2024 18:50:02 GMT 12
It was the Druine Turbulent BWE - was on loan to HB&EC Aero Club at the time from memory
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Post by McFly on Apr 21, 2024 19:52:10 GMT 12
It was the Druine Turbulent BWE - was on loan to HB&EC Aero Club at the time from memory NZ Civil Aircraft ( link)..   "Above we see ZK-BWE at Hastings with Des Smith in the cockpit. In the background is the Miles Whitney Straight ZK-AXD and the HB and ECAC Tiger Moth ZK-ANP. ZK-BWE was damaged on 03-01-1963 by another pilot after engine problems at Waiohiki. I seem to recall that the fuel cap vent was blocked. As can be seen below the wing was badly damaged." |
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Post by thomarse on Apr 21, 2024 19:55:08 GMT 12
I wonder if that's the same Des Smith who loaded for Chris Pask for years?
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Post by Antonio on Apr 21, 2024 20:00:23 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 21, 2024 23:06:55 GMT 12
This all makes sense now. There was talk of this accident as part of an interview I did with Stan Smith and Robin Hickman for the upcoming Sport Flying issue.
When I read the article from The Press I assumed it was a Cub or similar, and I suspected he was attempting to fly beneath the bridge but stuffed it up. But no, not the case. Amazing how an article can tell a story without properly telling the story...
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Post by kiwi172 on Apr 24, 2024 16:26:59 GMT 12
A belated note from Jerry via Kiwi 172.
Yes, that's me.
I tried to post a comment on Turbulent ZK-BWE.
I was the hapless you man (still in high school) who trashed her so long ago.
Here is the post I tried to put up -
I have just spotted this feed re BWE. I was a young high school student who had a forced landing in BWE in 1962 after the newly fitted fuel tank filler gasket was replaced. I was on a flight from Bridge Pa to Napier when the engine died. Orchards were everywhere & the only landable area was the Tutaekuri riverbed near Waiohiki. I landed right on the edge of a smooth gravel area but, without brakes & little rudder effect I wasn't able to stop and a wing clipped a bridge pylon at low speed but enough to break off a wing & I ended up upside down, just on the water's edge. Fortunately, I pulled my head down between my knees & only got a few scratches on my back & a wet head! The next day I revisited the landing site, with Herb Maxwell. the CFI at Bridge Pa, & the 3-point landing tracks were quite visible where I said I had touched down. A big relief as the rumour mill had me trying to fly under the bridge!
This episode of my flying escapades will be mentioned in a book I am writing. I would also like to use the two photos shown in this blog so I will endeavour to contact the photographer if I can.
The reason I contacted you was to somehow get a copy of the two photos of BWE shown in the post on your blog. The Des Smith mentioned was a fellow club member with me at Bridge Pa. (photos supplied Kiwi 172)
The book I am working on has been at the suggestion of the aviation historian Richard Waugh. I flew with his father Brian Waugh out of Franz Josef in the late 60s. I eventually flew the Dominie service on the coast after Brian not long before I headed to Fiji to be CP for Fiji Air Services and then Air Pacific. Tales to tell!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 26, 2024 9:43:35 GMT 12
Thanks for that info Jerry, and Dave!
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