Jungle Crash

Pilot Crisp’s Lucky Ecape in Mishap near Wau

PILOT DONALD CRISP, who is engaged in the New Guinea goldfields aerial transport service conducted by Messrs. W. R. Carpenter & Co., Ltd., had a fortunate escape from death when his ’plane crashed in the jungle country near Black Cat Creek, between Salamaua and Wau.

On Sunday, December 16, while flying a Fox Moth machine loaded with freight, he ran into a heavy thunderstorm over Bitoi Gorge. The down currents pre vented the machine rising, and he crashed on the treetops. Though the ’plane was totally wrecked, Pilot Crisp escaped with only a slight shaking and bruises.

Relating his experiences after being rescued, the airman said that as the ’plane crashed the engine, cargo, and front of the cabin fell 70ft. to the bottom of the gorge. His safety belt held him to the rear portion of the machine, which remained suspended in the trees. Even tually he descended safely.

He made several unavailing attempts to light a fire to signal the searching ’planes sent out when he was posted missing. On the following Tuesday he set out on foot, and hacked his way through the dense forest until he reached the camp of a miner named Reynolds, on Black Cat Creek. From there native runners were despatched to inform the search parties. He arrived at Salamaua on December 21.