New Britain herald., 1926-09-21
Sikorsky Begged Postponement

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 Igor Sikorsky, Russian designer and builder Of the plane. could not De located immediately after the tragedy, He was reported 10 have begged in tears last night that the flight be postponed because of a cross wind that endangered the take off.
 An attempt was made to take of last Thursday but had to be post poned because of a gasoline leak age discovered at the last minute. Atterward Parisian friends of Cap tain Fonck urged him to make the flight for the honor of France even at the risk Of death.
 Cause of Fatal Crash
 The crash was caused by the huckling of @ wheel on an extra landing gear that was to have been dropped into the ocean as soon as the plane got under way.
 T knew the wheel had crashed. said Fonck, but could neither stop nor rise"
 Lieut.. Curtin's Explanation
 Lieut.. Curtin said: 'erhe plane was driven at full power, accele- rated slowly. reaching a ground speed Of 65 miles. Three quarters of the length Of the runway it seemed that the outboard auxiliary wheel collapsed, carrying away the left lower rudder.
 The plan yeered to the left, but it was impossible to head it again on straight course, and the plane went over the brink at the end Of the runway at a speed of about 60 miles. When passing over the brink Captain Fonck pulled back the con- trols to effect a normal landing, at the same time throttling down his motors.
 Gas Tanks Were Broken
 Tt seemed to me that the right wheel collapsed when the plane on the right wing. The gas tanks were apparently rup- NANAt III NINN tA AilN lttSk tlidl llNc gas poured down over the still heated exhaust pipe"
 Bursts Into Flames
 The plane burst into flames an Instant after the two pilots leaped rom it. Heavy clouds of black smoke rolled upward. An airplane eircling overhead sounded a fire siren. and telephone calls brought he Westbury fire department within ten minutes. They used small fire extinguishers on the James but these were futile. There vas no water available in the mid He of the field. and firemen said | would have been useless fighting ! gasoline fire. There were $500 gallons of gasoline in the tanks.
 Carried Over 2S,000 Pounds
 The plane weighed more than ,S,oo0 pounds loaded at the take off. There was a low hanging mist. md light north wind but no ain. The plane was taking on to- ward the west.
 An hour earlier Carl F. Schory. chairman of the contest committee # the National Aeronautic asso- 'Iation, had sealed the gasoline anks and the barograph as heck at the end of the flight on whether the plane had taken on nore fuel or landed during the 'oyage.
 1000 Saw Tragedy
 Approximately 1000 persons had adhered 10 watch the start Of what was to have been an epic 'oyage. When the plane crashed he crowd rushed forward, but 'ould not get within 50 yards of he plane. The grass was burned 'ack for 50 feet around it.
 Women screamed and tainted nd one soldier, said to have been hell shocked. went into mysteries.
 Leaves Wife and Children
 The fire ragged for more than an Iour afterward. and 1t was impos- ible to rescue the bodies of the rapped airmeu. Clavier had & wife nd three children waiting to well ome him in Paris.
 Officials Of the Sikorsky Aerial Engineering corporation. builders f the plane. exonerated all parti- pants from blame, and indicated mother attempt would be made at
 nonstop flight.
 No Blame Is Placed
 W. A. Barry, vice president and eneral manager, and L. A. Shou- latof, secretary and treasurer. igned statement that said: The lkorsky company is most extreme y sorry for what has happened.
 fEonfinued on Para TwalvoA