Omaha daily bee., 1921-05-16
Stunt Flyer
From Plane
Warren Kite, Grand Island
Pilot, Jumps 800 Feet When
Ships ''Tail'' Cut Off by
Second Machine.
Thousands View Death

Grand Island, Neb., May Is
Warren P. Kite met instant and most
spectacular death here this after
noon, when, while performing in the
air, he was compelled to jump from
height OF 800 feet.
He had been encircling and was
being circled by a second plane,
piloted by ]. H. Smith. The two
machines ventured too closely, how
ever. In sight Of several thousands
of spectators, Smiths propeller came
into contact with the tail end of
Kites machine and cut it off conf
pletely just back of Kites seat. To
those who were looking on from be-
low it looked as if Kite jumped from
the machine, presumably deciding
this safer than TO remain with in in its
certain fall, but perhaps overesti-
mating the distance.
He fell 60 rods from the place
where the machine landed. Prae..
tically every bone in his body was
broken.
Kite formerly was an instructor
at Kelly field. He came here Il
year ago from Springfield, Mo-,
where his parents still reside!
Wife Sees Accident.
The Grand Island Aero company
had advertised an exhibition of
stunt flying this afternoon and sew
eral thousands had gone to the
grounds.
Other thousands were witnessing
the stunts from other places Of ad-
vantage. To all, Kite gave the ap-
pcarance of jumping from his plane
Spectators Immediately saw the
amputated portion of his machine
fall. Smiths plane receded and then
descended. They then witnessed
the Kite plane lunge and Kite emerg-
ing from it in a leap.
He was evidently conscious almost
until he struck the earth, for instead
of the body beeing limp, in its spec
tacular and horrifying descent, arms
and legs were held outstretched. His
contact with the earth. however, was
almost on his back.
r.. Ground Indented.
He cleared a pasture fence about
IS feet. The hard prairie turf was
1ndented from two to three inches in
the almost perfect contour of man.
Harold Watts, young lad and his
companion, were first to reach his
side.
The body had rebounded from the
earth backward and close to the
fence. -
When Watts tired to lift the BODY.
he addressed Elite, but there was no
reply.
The heart, he said, was still faint
ly beating, but death unquestionabiy
came instantly from the awful fall
Smith had difficulty in making his
descent with both the blades Of his
propeller broken and one wing
cracked. But he landed safely and
was uninjured. He feels the dis
tressing affair and the loss OF his
companion very keenly.
Flying Together.
Both have been flying together for
several months and Smith took the
first honors at the recent state air
plane tournament at Hoidrege.
Miss Elsie Allan, the Grand Is
land young woman flyer, who also
did stunt flying at Holdrege. was
on her way to the grounds with her
parents this afternoon when the ac-
cident occurred, and is attending
Mrs. Kite, who is prostrated with
the shock and the sudden grief.
Smith was to leave tomorrow. to
bring Mrs. Smith and their one
child from Kansas City to make
their home here. Smith was also in
the aviation service during the war
as an instructor, and neither he nor
Kite had ever before had a serious
accident, though both have been fly
ing about FIVE years, and were count
ed among the best trained and sea
soned flyers in the country.
First Fatal Crash.
Smiths ability to descend safely
is regarded by Miss Allan as the
next thing to miracle.
Kite was Is years old. He was
married on January "a, 1919, at
Springfield, No,
While the Grand Island Aero
company was the first of its kind in
Nebraska, having been organized by
Aviator Lloyd Thompson, in the
service in italy, this is the first ac-
cident ever occurring on its grounds.
Many of the thousands who were
compelled to see it, declare they
never want to look at aero stunting
again.