Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-07
Flying Hurt More Than Helped
BY Hiding Airplane Wreckage

Alleged governmental sanction for
the removal of wreckage after recent
airplane crash is severely criticized by
the press. The advantages gained by
the study of accidents will do far more
to stimulate public participation in
flying than sight or record of catas-
trophies can do harm, in the opinion
OF those who comment. The discus
sion seems entirely motivated by a de-
in aviation.
In connection with the tragedy at
Kansas City, involving the loss of five
lives, the st. Louis Post-Dispatch en-
phaslzes the failure to obey the orders
OF deputy coroner that the wreckage
was not to be destroyed. An inspector
of the Department of Commerce is
quoted as to the need of clearing up
the wreck, in the words, 1--WE are try
ing to sell aviation to the public and
the Wreckage of a plane lying around
Tor people to gaze at has a bad eff
feet" The Post-Dispatch comments {:
Such jealous friends of commercial
aviation are its worst enemies. The
public understands that occasional ac-
cidentS are the price of aviation prog
ress, but it will not tolerate efforts to
prevent full and free analysis of
them"
y x x
The "inexcusable action" at Kansas
City as viewed by the Atlanta Consti-
tuition, should receive the attention
OF the proper authorities, so that such
steps can be taken as to prevent in
future any. such willful disregard of the
publlcS rights. Official examination
of the remains of this wrecked plane
should have been welcomed, if for no
other reason than the lesson that
might have been learned by the pos
Slble discovery of the cause of the ac-
c1dent. In addition, nothing could
give passenger aviation blacker eye
than efforts such as this" concludes
the Constitution.
Whatever light can be thrown on
News, Should be furnished as mat
ter of course to the proper authorities
and to the public. Any other policy
naturally engenders suspicion, fear and
gross eXaggeration. The destruction
OF evidence likely to contribute even
remotely to the solution of a problem
made acute by the fatal crash of an
alrplane should be prohibited and
penalized. Senator Allen of Kansas
very properly condemns the action of
the aviation company. That action
according to the Senator, did more
harm to the future of aviation than
20 major accidents Manifestly avi-
alton laws must not tolerate secrecy in
Such cases and must provide fit punish
ment Tor the suppression of evidence
bearing upon accidents to airplanes.
Such evidence is essential to the in
tegrity as we'll as to the progress of
aviation.
Public confidence in air transpor-
6GrInTnc
ming Bulletin, "can be established and
maintained only by making clear the
reasons for occasional failure of per-
sonnet or equipment. To obviate danger
we must have exact information as to
its nature. Disclosure of flaws in
planes or plotting is the best assurance
OF remedy. Maj. Young, Assistant
Secretary of Commerce for Aeronautics.
points out that the inquiries conducted
under his auspices are informal, no
hearings being held and no witnesses
being subpoenaed. The wreckage is ex-
ahmed. such data as may be available
are gathered, and experts endeavor to
reconstruct the picture and arrive at
conclusions. He hints that if the con-
cluSions thus reached should be made
lnadmiSSible in civil suits by law. diff
ticulties in the way of publicity would
be removed, but courts and juries are
capable of assessing the weight of such
evidence"
THE public must be taken into full
confidence" contends the Salina Jour-
nal, land when it is, it will quickly
realize that tremendous strides have
been made in air safety, and that the
safety of an air trip, where efficient
planes and competent pilots are used,
is accepted as just as matter-of-fact as
the journey by train might be. If
there is not full investigation. and
publishing of the results, suspicion is
aroused. Suspicion is the hardest thing
Of all against which to battle"
X X X
Attitude OF air officials as disclosed
Is described by the Grand RAPIDS Press