§ Mr. ROBERT HARCOURTasked the Secretary of State for War whether he has now received any report as to the Montrose aviation fatality?
§ Colonel SEELYI am informed that the probable reason for the accident was that the rear of the right upper wing tip broke upwards during a right-hand spiral, causing the aeroplane to swing to the right. The breaking up of the rear edge of the tip probably caused the neighbouring ribs to break, and force the front part of the plane to twist downwards. The resulting air pressure would then wrench the two outer plane struts out of their sockets, and the damage would spread along the wing. The wood of the rear of the wing tip, which was covered by the fabric where the damage probably started, had been repaired at some time, but it has not yet been possible to discover when and where this repair was carried out. The machine was carefully examined before the flight on 27th May, and reported all correct.