The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-01-28
Big Ship Bursts Into Flames
as 1t Falls to Earth
at Kansas City.
RESCUE EFFORTS FAIL
Failing Motor Believed
Cause of Tragedy Close
to Landing Field.
BY REX r. GOAD
United Press stan Correspondent

KANSAS CITY, Kan, Jan. 49,
A black mark on the snow in an
open field here marked the place
today where five persons were
crushed and burned to death in a
flaming airplane.
Pilot Dyke Laudeman, apparently
struggling with a failing motor, had
made an effort to land his Travelair
six-paSsenger carrier at time when
he could see the swinging beacon
and red markers of Fairfax airport.
his goal, just mile away.
The airplane, which flew from
Wichita, Kan, late Monday, was
behind schedule and darkness had
closed in when the trouble devel-
oped. Laudeman, losing altitude,
according to witnesses, swung away
from a building, then went into a
vertical bank to crash from about
$50 feet.
The crew of switch engine near
the scene said the craft was en-
veloped in flames before 1t fell. The
motor was broken in half, both
sections digging into the hard
ground.
Framework Is Twisted
The steel framework and under
carriage were twisted and charred.
Everything else, including the bodies
of the pilot and his four passengers,
was burned.
The dead were:
Pilot Dyke Laudeman, Kansas
City, Kan.
Passengers:
Miss Margaret Dice. St Joseph,
Mo.
G. r. McKinnon, Chicago, re-
Gently assigned as branch man.
ager Of the Robbins g. Meyers
Electric Company, ST. Louis.
James Eggert, TOO Woods The
alter building, Chicago.
William Flynn. manager Globe
theater, Kansas City, Mo.
The plane was operated by the
Central Air Lines, a subsidiary of
the Universal Aviation Corporation.
Paul Goldsborough, VICE president Of
Universal, with offices In st. Louis,
will arrive today to investigate the
crash.
Ship Veers Suddenly
Attendants at Fairfax airport were
preparing the field for a landing
and the siren was screaming as the
plane became a glowing spot against
the night sky. 1t was flying low
and roared toward the field from
the south. P. H. Brown. an aSSo-
ciate Of McKinnon, stood in the
Universal waiting room and watched
the approach from a window.
Suddenly the ship veered, then
went from control. 1t struck the
ground with terrific impact. There
was disagreement as to whether 1t
started to burn before or after the
crash. Witnesses said there was g,
terrible moment when the craft
darted downward, q crash and
flames. 1t was over quickly. leaving
them powerless to explain the
causes.
Workers rushed from the Gould
casting plant with fire hose, but wa
ter was futile. The wings and fusi-
lage burned their imprint into the
snow and we're consumed, leaving
only a black pattern.
Bodies Grouped Together
Police went to the scene from
here with ambulances and when the
fire was cooled sufficiently began
the difficult task of removing what
remained Of the victims.
The bodies were grouped to-
gether. Pilot Laudeman and Miss
Dice had spread their hands before
their faces as If to protect their
eyes from the blaze.
The plane left Wichita at $3.50 p.
m, with five passengers. One OF
these, registered as "Mr. Hafler,"
left the ship at Topeka. 1t was the
second section Of the scheduled run.
The first section landed safely
shortly before the crash Of its COM
panion plane.