Evening star., 1940-09-08


again, was delayed twice in its de-
parture from Washington-once to
wait for a passenger who was late
and whose name Is unknown, and
once to remedy a slight defect of
no consequence. according to testi-
mony. in the oil filter.
The plane was in perfect condi-
ton when it took off at 2:18 pm,
the board was told.
Our OF Pittsburgh from the Office
OF Mr.. Coons came the weather re-
port two hours before the flights
scheduled departure. Mr. Coons
advised a flight at 5000 feet. He
saw no indication of thunderstorms
pected the ship would encounter
thunderstorms after 1t passed Pitts
burgh on its way toward Detroit.
Born of Hurricane
The hard rain that did come over
Virginia. Mr.. Coons testified yester-
day, was born of the tropical hur-
ricane then raging along the sea-
board. He explained that the hurri-
canoe drove warm air inland. He
said he did not expect that this
warm air could create "convexion.'
In covexion. he said the airs sur
face becomes heated and rises: then
cools as it rises; the GOODNESS causes
the moisture to condense; the moi
sture collects. grows heavy, then
falls in rain.
c. A. B. Member Warner asked
Mr.. Coons:
IF you had had full knowledge
before the flight went out as to
the weather that was to come.
would you out Of your experience
consider that a reason for not dis
patching the flight"
No said Mr.. Coons. there was
not enough activity in the storms
for that"
Capt. McLaflin. who passed over
the Short Mountain field about the
same time flight 10 crashed testified:
II left Pittsburgh at lao and ar
rived Washington at 254, was
flying at 1000 feet. There were
few minutes of instrument flying at
the first ridges. with scattered
clouds and smooth air. The same
conditions were around Martins
burg where Capt Scroggins would
have checked in from at 2:47 if he
had not crashed0
Air Was Smooth.
"At Martinsburg I got request
from Washington to fly at 5000.
There were contact conditions (f1y-
ing by vision) to Charles Town. w.
Va. then heavy rain for 2 or 3
minutes. There was little rain
static. but the air was smooth"
The rain put Capt. McLaf1in back
on instrument flying. 1t was dur
ing the rain that he passed near
Short Mountain He went on:
I'VE broke out tcame into the
earth's view on the east side OF
the ridge, about 5 miles west Of
Leesburg. at 5000 feet. There was
little choppiness. but not much.
1t was not turbulent air. The clouds
were not building up to thunder
| heads"
He said he was about 6 or 7 miles
southeast of Short Hill when he
broke out near Leesburg. He said
he saw no lightning and got no
lightning static on his radio.
Paid Attention to Details.
Capt. Read testified that Capt.
Scroggins. with whom he few as
CO. pilot off and on for five years,
paid more attention to detail than
most any person in any type OF
business" He was fond of athletics,
of riding. boating, golf and tennis,
man very smooth at handling
aircraft
Mr.. Sebree few 2S trips as Capt.
Scroggins' co-pilot. They just
missed seeing each other on the
fatal day. Mr.. Sebree said:
August 81 1 came down from
Pittsburgh in the morning, arrived
here about noon and hung around
the field waiting for ride to 90
home alexandria,. Moore came.