Plaque proposed for 1942 air disaster

GREYMOUTH - A group of historians want to install a plaque commemorating one of the West Coast's worst aviation disasters.

A Dragonfly ZK-AGP took off from Westport headed for Nelson on December 21, 1942. Soon after take-off the starboard propeller was lost and the aircraft ditched in the sea. The pilot survived, but the four passengers drowned. It was only the second time fatalities had occurred on a scheduled air flight in New Zealand.

Auckland aviation historian Richard Waugh has written to the Buller District Council asking for support for placing and funding a plaque at the airport.

He has researched the crash for a book, Lost ... Without Trace, due out later this year.

The Dragonfly was just breaking through the top of the cloud at about 1220m when pilot Arthur Baines saw the propeller disappear. He started returning to Westport with full throttle on the port engine, but it could not maintain height.

It ditched into the sea shortly before 10am, about 7k offshore. There were no lifejackets on board. Three of the passengers were not swimmers and refused to take off their heavy clothing, eventually drowning. Mr Baines hung onto to the tail and was picked up about 25 minutes after it went under.

Salvage attempts were unsuccessful, but the propeller washed ashore in early March and examinations showed some of the holding bolts were loose.

In 1944 the Air Department increased the bolt shank diameter. At an inquiry in Wellington, Mr Baines was commended for bringing the plane to rest on the water.

Mr Waugh said debate about the accident continued for years, with one story suggesting there had been particularly heavy freight in the rear.

Mr Baines died in September 1947, aged 33.

"I have been working with a group of aviation historians of more than 10 years to ensure that the nine pioneering fatal airliner accidents in New Zealand are permanently commemorated," said Mr Waugh. "They were literally the human cost of aviation in this country."

Plaques have already been installed at Kawatiri Junction, Mt Ruapehu and the Kaimai Ranges and Auckland, Paraparaumu and Nelson Airports.

- NZPA