Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-09-04
MAIL PILOT DIES
ASP[ANE CRASHES
Graft Falls on First Trip
With Air Express From
Boston to New York. i
Rx the Associated Press.

STAFFORD, Conn.,, September 81
Daniel G.. Cline, veteran flyer in the
air mail service on the Boston-New
York route, lost his life early today
when his plane crashed in Moose
Meadows section of East wellington.
The plane was entirely demolished.
but searchers. who found the body
late in the afternoon. salvaged the six
bags of mail matter and the express
parcels which were being carried.
The plane came down on the farm
of John Hitsky and the time was fixed
fairly we'll by members of the family
who heard the roar Of motor over
head at 12:45 o'clock this morning and
then noticed that the noise suddenly
stopped. Some of the family went
outdoors, but there was no sound OF
a plane and all went back to bed.
Plane in Underbrush.
This morning two sons Of Hitsky
went searching for what they sup
posed was a fallen plane, but finally
gave up the task. Later one of
Hitsky's sons was in Hartford. where
he heard of the missing plane and he
returned to the farm and began a
further search. 1t was located by
,Hitsky's son John, who sent word to
the State police.
The plane was in a heavy growth
Of trees and underbrush on the side or
rocky hill. 1t had smashed on
tree a foot in diameter in crashing.
The fusilage had turned over and
Pilot Cline met death by being crushed
under il head foremost into the
ground. His skull was broken. as
were both legs. The motor was thrown
off to one side about 90 feet.
Had Air Express.
The searching party under lead OF
John Hitsky, the son. had to hack
and cut their way to the plane.
The searching party was made up
of State police, farmers and men sent
to the meadow by the American Elk
press Co., which had it's first consign-
ment of express matter from Boston
to New York on the plane.
Clines body was removed by all
hands tipping over the plane ana
taken to the Hitsky farm house.
The mail bags and the express
packages were checked, with the in
ventory, and the various packages
taken by those who had authority to
| receive them.
Had Many Close Calls.
Cline, who had been carrying the
mail over the route from Boston to
New York for months, was considered
to be one of the most experienced
pilots in the employ of the Colonial
Air Transport, Inc. He had been IN
many tight places and had come out
virtually unscathed.
He left Boston last night to In
augurate the first carriage Of express
matter for the American Express Co.
from Boston to New York and his
route called for a stop at Brainard
Field, Hartford.
1t was the failure of the plane to
be at the field on schedule time which
led to inquiry last night as to the
whereabouts of Pilot Cline.
An all-day search was kept up for
the missing plano and finally word OF
it's finding was received at the State
police barracks here about o'clock
this afternoon.
Cline, who was 33 years old, lived
in Lima, Ohio, it is believed. Lieut.
Harmon of the Stafford Police Bar
racks found in Clines clothing his
name and Lima, Ohio and tonight
by wire was endeavoring to" find some
one who would give instructions as te
the body.