Evening star., 1935-04-22
PILOT LANDS SHIP.
AFTER MOTOR IS.
DROPPED IN FLIGHT.
Six Passengers Saved as
Plane Returns to Air.
field Here.
ACCIDENT OCCURS IN
MOUNTAINOUS AREA
All Preparations Made for Bad
Crash, but Skillful Flyer
Averts It.
BY JOSEPH S. EDGERTON.

new candldate 1or the VOteQ All
Mail Medal of Honor, awarded only
twice in history, made his appearance
last night when one of the three en-
gines of Central Airlines transport
plane carrying six passengers from
Washington to the West exploded"
tore out of the ship and plunged to
the ground near Hancock. Md.
Calmly taking stock of the situa-
ton while the other two engines,
affected by the shock. spluttered, the
pilot, j. H. slim" Carmichael. de-
cided to return to Washington rather
than to attempt crash landing" in
the mountainous country around Han
cock, about IS miles northwest of here
He and his co-pilot. r. H. Bat"
Taylor, checked as we'll as they could
IN the complete darkness the condi-
ton of their ship, all the lights of
which had gone out when the engine
tore loose, treasured their passengers,
and set about making arrangements
for what they had every reason to be-
]ieve might be a bad crash when
they attempted to land in Washing
ton.
They discussed the situation and
decided their chances would be bet
ter at Boiling Field than at Washing
ton Airport because of the better
facilities at the Army post for ham
ding crashes. They communicated
their decision by radio to Washington
and asked that preparations be made
for a crash. They could see that the
missing engine. in its plunge, had
struck the left landing wheel, the tire
Of which was badly torn They could
not tell how much damage had been
done to the landing gear itself.
frightened Safety Belts.
During the flight back to Washing-
ton Taylor went among the passen-
gers testing and tightening safety
belts. While all the passengers realized
the seriousness Of the predicament, it
was said. they all remained calm
At Boiling Field the boundary and
flood lights were turned on, fire apara-
tus and ambulances brought out i'll
readiness and crash and medical par
ties formed.
Between 1890 and l O'Clock this
morning the disabled plane appeared
and passed low over the field while
Carmichael and Taylor mapped their |
landing. They circled ard came lack |
again with the wing of the badly un- |
balanced plane high on the size of
the missing eng ne. Carmichae1, ac-
cording to all observers. made a mag |
nif1icent landing. keeping the damaged |
side high until most of the speed had |
been lost. The plane thea made
fast ls0-degree ground loop end came
to rest without damage
Carmichael's first question on land |
Ing was for information as to whether |
the falling motor had struck any one.
Up to noon today no report had been
received as to where the motor struck,
though a search for it was started |
soon after daybreak.
Carmichael and Taylor, leaving the
damaged plane at Boiling Field, re-
turned to Washington Airport, where
another plane was held in readiness
for them. and, with three of the six
passengers from the damaged ship,
took of again at so am. for De-
troit. The other three passengers
also flew out of Washington this
morning on later plane
List of Passengers
The passengers were listed as j. H.
Mcbride of Cleveland; Kenneth Laird
OF Tabor, Iowa; c. j. Strate of Keo-
kuk, H.; David r Shelton of Pitts
burgh, and DR.. and Mrs. j. A. Jen-
nings Of Fredericksburg, Va. The
first three went on with Carmichael
and Taylor.
I'VE had no way of telling what
happened to the engine" DR.. Jen-
nings explained this morning. 1T was
not an explosion, of course, since
there was no fire, but it was more like
an explosion in its effect than any
thing else. My first thought was that
We had flown into the side of noun
tain in the darkness There was just
a violent shock, and then we realized
that the engine was gone. 1t was the
NlV OutbOuAu Ch6AiC, oho ~ woo AA6Ao
outside the window next to which I
was seated.
The shock seemed to affect the
other two engines and they splut-
tered. while long streams Of flame
flowed from their exhausts. They
soon settled down to normal running. |
however. I took my wife's hand and
told her everything would be all right.
1t was beautiful to see how courage
ously the other passengers took the
situation. The only evidence of nerv-
BUSINESS was in the increased num-
Der Of cigarettes they smoked"
DR.. Jennings, who said he has
flown many thousands Of miles during
the past few years, pointed to his |
lip, badly swollen on one side.
II must have bit It," he said.
Co-pilot Taylor soon came back |
into the passenger cabin to see how
his passengers were faring, DR.. Jen-
nings said.
Il asked him, Well, young fellow.
what are you going to do about it?'
Flyers Confident. 1885,.
"'We are going back to Washing
ton he replied.
"'Do you think you will make it?'
I asked.
"'Why do you ask?' he said.
"T have flown quite bit and I
know this is pretty bad replied.
"'Well, don't you worry. think |
we'll get out Of it without much
trouble he said.
Il must say Taylor and Carmichael
behaved like gallant gentlemen. There
mas M fraee of llneaSineSS visible |