Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 1, 2020 13:56:44 GMT 12
Years ago a veteran that I interviewed, and I cannot recall now even who it was, told me he witnessed this accident which sounded incredible, and whilst I never doubted his word, I never found any evidence of it till now. This comes from the NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 5 June 1934
AEROPLANE FALLS
CRASH AT MANGERE
MOTH MACHINE WRECKED
ESCAPE OF THE PILOT
ONLY MINOR INJURIES
EYE-WITNESSES AMAZED
A miraculous escape from serious injury was experienced by an Auckland Aero Club pilot, Mr. Reginald Diggle, aged 35, married, when a Moth aeroplane he was flying solo was completely wrecked after spinning from about 2500 ft. near the Mangere aerodrome about 2.45 yesterday afternoon.
Mr. Diggle, who is a grocer and lives in Dominion Road, escaped with cuts on the face and abrasions, and went home after receiving medical attention. He is the holder of an A licence.
The machine, the property of the Auckland Aero Club, was damaged to the extent of about £600, and it is doubtful whether it will be worth while rebuilding it. The crash, which occurred just outside the aerodrome boundary on the south-eastern side of the club's property, was witnessed by members of the staff and a large number of visitors, and all were amazed to see Mr. Diggle lift himself from the wreckage and walk away practically unhurt.
The club's chief instructor, Flight-Lieutenant D. M. Allan, who was flying another machine in the vicinity, also saw the crash, and immediately flew over the spot at a low altitude. Mr. Diggle waved to him to indicate that he was not seriously injured.
Pilot's Experience
"It was a most unpleasant few moments," Mr. Diggle said later in describing his experience. "I had been flying for about 10 minutes or a-quarter of an hour, and had made one landing. I then took off and climbed to about 2000 ft., did a few turns, and climbed again. At about 2500 ft. I was almost directly over the aerodrome, and decided to spin down about 1000 ft., as I often do, before commencing to come in to land.
"I put the machine into a right-hand spin, and when I thought it had gone far enough, having completed three or four turns, I tried to correct the spin in the usual manner, by centralising the joy-stick and applying opposite rudder. The machine, however, failed to respond, and although it seemed to slow up somewhat, it lost height rapidly. Realising that it was out of control, I tried to pull it out of the spin by using the engine, but this had no effect, so I shut off again.
Head Strikes Cockpit
"By this time I was only about 100 ft. from the ground, and knew I could do nothing to avert a crash. Just before hitting the ground, however, the machine stopped spinning and went into a flat turn, with the result that the wheels struck first. Everything seemed to collapse around me. The safety-belt broke away, and I found myself sitting, still holding the joy-stick, with pieces of the machine scattered about."
Mr. Diggle said that when the machine struck, he was thrown forward and hit his head against part of the cockpit. He was amazed however, to find himself not seriously hurt, and hastened to leave the wrecked aeroplane, in view of the possibility of fire breaking out. He sat on the grass a little distance away, and waited for the arrival of a number of officials from the hangar. He saw Mr. Allan pass overhead, and waved to reassure him.
Condition of Machine
The pilot was taken to the clubhouse in a motor-car, and his wounds were dressed by two members of the Onehunga division of the St. John Ambulance, who happened to be in the vicinity. Later Dr. A. L. de B. Noakes inserted four stitches in a cut on Mr. Diggle's forehead, a St. John Ambulance member finally driving the pilot to his home.
A subsequent inspection of the machine showed it to be damaged almost beyond repair. It crashed on the seashore within a few yards of the water, and was broken into several large pieces. The engine was torn from its mounting, the tail, complete with rudder and elevators, was smashed off, and the petrol tank, together with the centre-section struts, was wrenched from its place between the top wings. All four wings were damaged, and the fuselage was broken in three. The various pieces were later lifted on to a motor-truck, and taken back to the hangar.
Fright For Onlookers
At the time of the crash none of the other machines in the air was engaged in aerobatics, and to interest the crowd the announcer, Mr. G. E. McKillop, was describing the movements of Mr. Diggle's Moth. When the machine had reached about 1000 ft. he told the crowd that the pilot would correct the spin almost immediately, but to the dismay of the many onlookers the Moth continued its career.
The wrecked Moth, ZK-AAT, is owned by the club, which purchased it in 1930. It is a standard de Haviland Gipsy Moth, and has been used for club work for a little over four years. The same machine was stolen by two men from the hangar at Mangere in April, and crashed when they attempted to takeoff from the aerodrome. On that occasion it was not damaged extensively, and was later rebuilt by the ground staff.
AEROPLANE FALLS
CRASH AT MANGERE
MOTH MACHINE WRECKED
ESCAPE OF THE PILOT
ONLY MINOR INJURIES
EYE-WITNESSES AMAZED
A miraculous escape from serious injury was experienced by an Auckland Aero Club pilot, Mr. Reginald Diggle, aged 35, married, when a Moth aeroplane he was flying solo was completely wrecked after spinning from about 2500 ft. near the Mangere aerodrome about 2.45 yesterday afternoon.
Mr. Diggle, who is a grocer and lives in Dominion Road, escaped with cuts on the face and abrasions, and went home after receiving medical attention. He is the holder of an A licence.
The machine, the property of the Auckland Aero Club, was damaged to the extent of about £600, and it is doubtful whether it will be worth while rebuilding it. The crash, which occurred just outside the aerodrome boundary on the south-eastern side of the club's property, was witnessed by members of the staff and a large number of visitors, and all were amazed to see Mr. Diggle lift himself from the wreckage and walk away practically unhurt.
The club's chief instructor, Flight-Lieutenant D. M. Allan, who was flying another machine in the vicinity, also saw the crash, and immediately flew over the spot at a low altitude. Mr. Diggle waved to him to indicate that he was not seriously injured.
Pilot's Experience
"It was a most unpleasant few moments," Mr. Diggle said later in describing his experience. "I had been flying for about 10 minutes or a-quarter of an hour, and had made one landing. I then took off and climbed to about 2000 ft., did a few turns, and climbed again. At about 2500 ft. I was almost directly over the aerodrome, and decided to spin down about 1000 ft., as I often do, before commencing to come in to land.
"I put the machine into a right-hand spin, and when I thought it had gone far enough, having completed three or four turns, I tried to correct the spin in the usual manner, by centralising the joy-stick and applying opposite rudder. The machine, however, failed to respond, and although it seemed to slow up somewhat, it lost height rapidly. Realising that it was out of control, I tried to pull it out of the spin by using the engine, but this had no effect, so I shut off again.
Head Strikes Cockpit
"By this time I was only about 100 ft. from the ground, and knew I could do nothing to avert a crash. Just before hitting the ground, however, the machine stopped spinning and went into a flat turn, with the result that the wheels struck first. Everything seemed to collapse around me. The safety-belt broke away, and I found myself sitting, still holding the joy-stick, with pieces of the machine scattered about."
Mr. Diggle said that when the machine struck, he was thrown forward and hit his head against part of the cockpit. He was amazed however, to find himself not seriously hurt, and hastened to leave the wrecked aeroplane, in view of the possibility of fire breaking out. He sat on the grass a little distance away, and waited for the arrival of a number of officials from the hangar. He saw Mr. Allan pass overhead, and waved to reassure him.
Condition of Machine
The pilot was taken to the clubhouse in a motor-car, and his wounds were dressed by two members of the Onehunga division of the St. John Ambulance, who happened to be in the vicinity. Later Dr. A. L. de B. Noakes inserted four stitches in a cut on Mr. Diggle's forehead, a St. John Ambulance member finally driving the pilot to his home.
A subsequent inspection of the machine showed it to be damaged almost beyond repair. It crashed on the seashore within a few yards of the water, and was broken into several large pieces. The engine was torn from its mounting, the tail, complete with rudder and elevators, was smashed off, and the petrol tank, together with the centre-section struts, was wrenched from its place between the top wings. All four wings were damaged, and the fuselage was broken in three. The various pieces were later lifted on to a motor-truck, and taken back to the hangar.
Fright For Onlookers
At the time of the crash none of the other machines in the air was engaged in aerobatics, and to interest the crowd the announcer, Mr. G. E. McKillop, was describing the movements of Mr. Diggle's Moth. When the machine had reached about 1000 ft. he told the crowd that the pilot would correct the spin almost immediately, but to the dismay of the many onlookers the Moth continued its career.
The wrecked Moth, ZK-AAT, is owned by the club, which purchased it in 1930. It is a standard de Haviland Gipsy Moth, and has been used for club work for a little over four years. The same machine was stolen by two men from the hangar at Mangere in April, and crashed when they attempted to takeoff from the aerodrome. On that occasion it was not damaged extensively, and was later rebuilt by the ground staff.
