The Washington herald., 1920-11-25
PILOT DIES
In FIERY CRASH
Captain Mccullough Burns
To Death When Flames
Envelope Plane.
RESCUE EFFORTS FAIL
Tank Explodes as Machine
Drops More Than zoo Fl.
AT Boiling Field.
RESCUE EFFORTS FAIL

capt. MaXWeH Il. MCNuiAOoehs "
San Jose, Cal. was burned to death
in an airplane at Boiling Field late
Tuesday afternoon.
Frank A. Clements. civilian en-
pIoye. 50 years old, Of 645 Ninth
street northeast, was probably IA
tally burned in attempting to rescue
Mccullough and is in a critical con-
dition at Walter Reed Hospital.
Private Ralph Rider. mechanician.
who accompanied Mccullough, and
stan Sergt. George Collins also are
under treatment at the hospital for
burns.
Capt. Mccullough was detailed
here with the Information Section
OF the Army Air Service. The ac-
cident occurred shortly before 4
o'clock following an observation
flight According to brother off,
GERS who were eyewitnesses of the
accident. shortly after the machine
had left the ground there was an
apparent irregularity in the opera
tion OF the motor. the motor miss
ing fire several times. 1t is also
believed that the machine struck
strong cross winds.
Attempting a forced descent from
a height of 200 feet, the aviator
made a sharp turn and sideslipped
TO the ground. Just as the plane
was about to land the wind got
under the tail of the machine. One
wing struck the ground, followed
by the nose of the machine. At
this juncture. il is believed, the
gasoline line between the emergency
tank and the carbureter ignited,
exploding the emergency tank and
setting fire to the plane.
Mechanicians and others rushed
to the plane and, although in mo-
mentary peril of losing their lives
in the explosion of the main tank.
extricated the badly burned man
from the flaming wreckage.
Capt. Mccullough was rushed to
the field infirmary for treatment.
but died on the way.
Rescuer May Die.
Clements, the aged civilian en-
ploye who was first to reach the
wrecked plane, was unable to get
beyond range when the main tank
exploded, burning him so badly that
he is not expected to live.
Capt. Mccullough, who is forty
two years old and unmarried, is a
graduate OF the college of engineer
ing. University of California. class
~ II
California, and is survived by q
mother and two brothers of the
same city. He is a cousin Of Dr.
Harvey W. Wiley of this city, in
whose home he was a frequent visi-
tor.
Capt. Mccullough was consid-
cred one of the foremost authorities
OF the day on commercial aviation.
He is said to have been very popular
with his brother officers. He served
with distinction in the civil govern
ment of the Philippines. especially
in the island Of Mindanao.
Entered Service For War.
When the United States entered
the war. Capt. Mccullough en-
tered the first training camp for Of
ficers conducted by the War Depart
ment at Camp Lewis. Wash. where
he was graduated with the rank of
captain of infantry. He was later
transferred to the air service and
won his pilots license at Dorr Field.
Fla. He served later at Carlson
Field, Fla. and was then trans
ferred here for special duty with
the inforation group Of the chief of
the air service, under orders to pre-
pare a report of commercial aero
IL ~
world.
He left the service in May. 1919.
TO engage in private business. but
re-entered as captain in the regu-
lar army unler the reorganization
act OF June 4. 1920.
Loss to Service Great.
Mai. Hickam, in charge OF the
Information branch OF the Air
Service, declared last night that the
death Of Capt. Mccullough was q
severe loss to the Air Service. since
he had specialized more than any
other army officer in commercial
aeronautic conditions.
A special board of inquiry will
convene at Boiling Field this morn
ing at s o'clock to investigate the
accident. First Lieut.. Ray A. Dunn
VIII as
Boiling Field officials last night
declared that they were puzzled as
to the cause of the accident. The
plane-a Curtiss ] " H-had made
a long fight in Maryland not many
days before, and, like all other
planes sent out on the ''line." was
thought in good condition.
Wire Reported Loose.
1t was reported that a wire was
noticed trailing from the plane Just
after the machine had taken of.
This statement could not be verified
at the field last night.
The body was taken to Walter
Reed Hospital and official notice
sent to the late aviator's family in
California by the War Department.
Formal Identification was made at
the hospital by the late captains
roommates at Delta Tau Delta, 1850
Massachusetts avenue-F. w. Cum
mer and LaMarr Ritchie. The
Thanksgiving dance of Delta Tau
Delta, which was to be held at the
fraternity house Thursday evening.
has been declared called of on ac-
count of the captains death.