Evening star., 1940-09-12
Experts Deny Theory
lightning or Plane
Failure Caused Crash
h. Board Investigators Hear
Speed in Dive Nay Have
Been BIS Miles an Hour

Federal aeronautics experts testi-
fed today, the sixth day of the
Civil Aeronautics Boards investiga-
ton into the crash of Pennsyl-
vania Central Airliner which killed
rs persons near Lovettsville, Va,
August 81, that there was no evi-
dence lightning hit the plane or
that there was any structural failure
before its final crash. a-s'
Four representatives of the Civil
Aeronautics Board, qualifying as
experts on aircraft engines and
structure, agreed that the airliner
struck the ground in steep descent
with full power on at speed which
may have been as great as 375
miles per hour.
Maj. George HaSkins, engineer in
the Safety Bureau of the board, who
was present at the dissembly of the
engines of the big aircraft, testified
that both the motors had been
turning at high speed at the mo-
ment of impact.
Maj. HaSkinS, an Air Corps Re
serve officer, flew in an Army Bib
bomber from Boiling Field over ap-
proximately the same route followed
by the airliner only IA minutes be-
hind the transport ship.
He testified that heavy rain was
encountered west of Washington,
necessitating instrument flight in
approximately the area of the crash.
Paper Bag Explosion Theory.
The theory that compression of air
In the fuselage of the airliner as a
result of its telescoping on striking
mechanical explosion" similar to
the bursting of a paper bag was
presented by Wittold E. Koneczny,
air safety specialist of the c. A. B.
This would indicate the reason for
scattering of parts of the wreckage
to both sides of the line of fight, he
said.
Mr.. Koneczny said it was difficult
to determine with any exactness the
speed of impact, but estimated it
might have been as high as 375 miles
per hour in a full-powered dive from
5000 feet. He said there was no evi-
dence of fire in the airplane prior to
the crash and that fire on the ground
was due only to the burning of gas
oline and an emergency flare.
Other witnesses this morning were
Gaylord w. Newton, chief OF the
power plant unit, airwo~thinesS Sec
ton of the C. A. B., and Albert A.
Vollmecke, senior aeronautical engi-
neer of the ONCE of Administrator
of Civil Aeronautics.
Senator Patrick McCarran, Demo-
crat, of Nevada who has introduced
a resolution calling for Senate
investigation of the crash and the
Civil Aeronautics Board, today sub
mitted list of written questions to
Frederick M. Glass, presiding at the
investigation. Mr. Glass said that
the Senator's questions will be put
to witnesses later today. They are
based on copies of previous testi-
mony, which we're requested by Sem
ator McCarran.
No violation of regulations or
variance from good practice occurred
In the maintenance of the airplane
which crashed at LovettSville or
other equipment of Pennsylvania
Central Airlines, it was testified by
Robert Burnett and Monte H. Sne-
decker. air carrier maintenance in
spectors of the Civil Aeronautics
Board. The company stayed well
within all maintenance requirements
as to length of operations of engines,
propellers and equipment between
overhauls and inspections, they testi-
fled.
Farmer to Testify.
Investigators also are expected to
hear testimony from I. F. Baker,
Morrisonville (VaO farmer, con-
cerning a rifle which was struck by
lightning bolt just one minute before
the big airliner crashed 3l2 miles
away. Some of the lay witnesses
heard earlier said they believe the
airliner was struck or narrowly
escaped being struck by lightning
Immediately before it dived into the
ground, and Mr.. Baker is said to
be ready to testify that the bolt
which tore his rifle to splinters is
the same which hit or passed in the
vicinity of the airliner. The rifle
was shattered by lightning, which
expert testimony placed in the order
of 10000 to $4,000 amperes. The
fragments of the weapon were in
troduced as evidence before the c.
A. B. investigators late yesterday.
A coroners inquest in the crash
deaths failed to shed any light on
the cause of the accident yesterday
at the Loudoun County Courthouse
In Leesburg. Most of the inquest
witnesses already had told their
versions of the crash at the C. A. B.
hearings here. The Leesburg near
ing was conducted by Common
wealth Attorney Charles F. Har-
rison and Coroner John A. Gibson.
Wreckage to Be Kept.
Central Airlines counsel present at
the inquest, said following the pro-
ceedings that the wreckage of the
airliner would be moved shortly to
shelter in the vicinity of the crash
scene and kept for -four or five
months" before it is destroyed.
Appearing before the c. A. B. in
vestigators yesterday afternoon, E.
r. Bayless, service representative of
the Wright Aeronautical Corp,
Paterson, N. j.; Joseph Palsulick,
project engineer for the same cor
poration, which manufactured the
engines used to power the crashed
ship, and Carl F. Schory of the
Hamilton propeller division, United
Aircraft Corp, which made the pro-
pellers, agreed that the engines and
propeuers were travelling at high
speed at the moment of the crash.
There was no indication of damage
to engines or propellers prior to the
moment of impact with the ground,
they testified.