Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-08
Mckinley High Student, Pres.
ton Paynter, Killed in
First Flight.
KORTE, VETERAN PILOT,
AND L. K. DENNIS, VICTIMS
Hoover Airport Crash Third for
Capital Planes in 48 Hours.
Nine Toll.

The crash of a two-seater biplane at
the Westinghouse Airport at $50
o'clock yesterday afternoon, killing the
pilot and its two passengers. brought
the shock of an air tragedy to the Ma
tional Capital for the third time within
48 hours and caused the casualty list
to mount to nine victims.
Frederick Korte, 90 years old, of
Easton, Md veteran pilot with more
than 600 hours in the air, granted the
request of Preston Paynter, Is years
old, Mckinley High Schoo! =udent and
son of Mr.. and Mrs. Carl Paynter, 1908
Seventeenth street northeast, to take
him up for his first airplane ride.
Lester K. Dennis, 26 years old, of the
American Small Loan Co., Alexandria,
Va. asked to be taken along. Mr. and
Mrs. Paynter, also at the airport to
greet Korte, o. L. Byrd and Roger w.
Bounds of Salisbury, Md, upon their
arrival at the airport a short time be-
fore, granted the boy their permission
Wave to Friends.
The youngster and Dennis Jumped
into the front cockpit and Korte TOOK
the controls in the rear pit. AS the
plane TAXED west across the field the
three waved at their friends, number
ing about Is. After taxing a short
way from the ports control station,
Korte nosed. his plane into the east,
gave the motor the gun" and after a
short run the ship was in the air
AS it passed near the control house
their friends again waved their hands
at the planes occupants. It had gained
about SO feet in the air at the time
Korte noSed the ship UP until 1t reached
100 feet, then, according to spectators,
the motor began to sputter
The noise of the faltering motor was
so pronounced that mechanics at work
in the hangers ran out into the field
to see what was happening. They said
they saw Korte make an effort to turn
to land. In doing so he lost altitude
and nosed his ship up at 45-degree
angle. Witnesses asserted the plane
wobbled in the air like wounded bird
as Korte attempted to straighten 1t
out. But he leveled of and the motor
began to hum again.
The pilot again nosed his ship up
ward to clear the telegraph wires skirt
ing the field near the Alexandria Road.
The plane began to spin and as
mechanics and spectators, seeing a
crash was inevitable, ran across the
field the ship plunged with terrific
crash onto the asphalt paved highway.
Caught BY Flames.
1t landed upright and Immediately
passengers did not attempt to jump
and were burned to death.
Mr.. and Mrs. Paynter were the first
to reach the crash scene and saw their
son perish in the flames.
The Jefferson District Fire Depart
ment and the rescue squad Of Virginia
Highlands put in their appearance a
few moments later but the firemen were
helpless.
One hour later the charred bodies of
the three victims were taken from the
mass of twisted metal and carried to
the c. j. Ives funeral home at Clar-
endon.
Mrs Dennis and her child was noti-
fed Of the tragedy at her home in Sails
bury. Dennis had moved to Alexandria
short time ago and Mrs. Dennis had
planned to join him within the coming
month.
Mr.. and Mrs. Karl Korte were noti-
fed of the death of their son at their
home in Easton. The pilot was assist
ant manager of the First Industrial
Bankers at Salisbury. He also was a
commissioned officer in the Maryland
National Guard.
Sitting in his sons room last night,
Mr.. Paynter told how the boy had taken
the flight that ended in his death.
Preston was deeply interested in avia-
ton and airships, "as any boy is" his
father explained. He long had nour-
lshed desire to make an actual flight
in the planes he had watched and
photographed.
Interest in Aviation.
you can see for yourself what he
thought of planes" Mr.. Paynter re-.
marked, indicating a tinted enlarged
copy Of snapshot Preston had made at
National Guard camp during the
past Summer that stood framed in the
position of honor on the lads bureau.
He had wanted to go up and When
We learned Mr.. Korte was coming here
today, he asked me if he couldn't make
flight with him." the grief-stricken
father continued. IT told him he could
go-accidentS in the air nowadays are
the exception rather than the rule ano
with all the miles that have been f1oWn
in relation TO the number Of accidents,
told him we'd take him. And so his
mother and I went with him to the
Held and we saw him CO."
Mr.. Paynter then told how the plane
TAXED up to the end of the field, turned
itself and poised for the take-oh dash
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