Evening star., 1941-05-09
Inquiry Under Way
In Crash Here Fatal
To Bolivian Officer
Several Possible Causes
Offered for Croekup That
Ended Goodwill Flight

Federal investigation to determine
the cause of a crash at Washington
Airport late yesterday which brought
death to an aide of the Bolivian
air force chief, injuries to an aide
of the Bolivian President and
tragic close to an international
goodwill flight was in progress to-
day.
The Civil Aeronautics Board as
signed James Douglass, assistant
chief of the Investigation Division,
Accident Bureau, and Bruce Petit
grew, air safety investigator, to con-
duct the investigation.
Capt Rafael Suarez Rivas, about
80. pilot of the American-built plane
which had been purchased for the
Bolivian Army, apparently was killed
instantly and his body was trapped
in the burning wreckage of the
plane.
Capt Alberto Taborga, also around
80, co-pilot, was thrown clear as the
plane struck. He made heroic but
futile effort to drag Capt. Suarez
Rivas from the flaming Wreckage and
then walked to an Arlington County
police scout car, in which he was
taken to Emergency Hospital. Pre-
limlnary examination showed head
and chest injuries and burns but
1t was thought he will recover.
Capt. Taborga is aide to Gen. En-
riQue Penaranda, President of Bo-
livia.
Several Possible Causes Advanced.
The planes motor was sent to
the Bureau of Standards for an eX-
animation and reports were filled
by two Civil Aeronautics Authorities
inspectors who were on the field
at the time and saw the crash.
There were several possible causes
Of the crash, on the basis of state
ments by those who saw the ac-
cident. One or two said they thought
the motor quit and one said that
1t sputtered out, as if the gas had
been turned off. An examination of
the Wreckage indicated that the
propellerS had not been set at the
proper pitch for take-of.
The plane had been warmed up
for five minutes before it rolled
down the runway at 42O pm. Be-
hind it, and waiting for the take
off. was plane owned by o. J.
Whitney Of New York, who had
sold the $4,000 ship to the Bolivians
three weeks ago. He was flying
South with them
With Mr.. Whitney was his 49,
year-old son Clayton. They COM
mented on the fact that the Bo-
lvian's ship was having hard time
getting off the ground.
Difficulty Getting Nose Up.
When the plane at last left the
runway, it reached an altitude of
100 or 200 feet, but was climbing
slowly. Eugene McLees. %, an
American Airllnes employe, said
that the pilot was having difficulty
getting the nose up.
Every time he tried to gain aiti-
tude, the plane stalled, he said. |
After two attempts to raise the nose.
Mr.. McLees said, the pilot pulled
hard on the stick-sending the plane
up sharply and into a bank to the
left. Then it dropped to earth ct
the airport boundary, on the Airing
ton Experimental Farm.
Smoke rose and then flames licked
through the wreckage. Capt. Ia
borga was thrown clear, but the
pilot was trapped inside-his leg
apparently caught between the
seats. Capt. Taborga, in spite of
his injuries, went back into the
wreckage and tried to save his
friend. The flames drove him back
and a short time later the gas tanks
caught fire.
The plane was burned to crisp
and the body of the pilot was
charred beyond recognition.
Had Just CabIed Wife.
Just before the take-off, Capt.
Suarez Rivas had sent a cable to
his wife in Bolivia: All is we'll.
Beautiful flight"
Both men were experienced flyers.
Capt. Suarez Rivas had been
commercial pilot and had flown in
Europe. He had 1900 flying hours
to his credit. Capt. Taborga was
pilot in the Chaco War.
The plane, single engined
Beechcraft biplane, had been pur-
chased for the Bolivian government
a month ago and the two Bolivian
officers took delivery of the ship in
New York. They took off from New
York shortly after noon yesterday,
several hours behind schedule, after
being delayed by bad weather.
Landing at Washington Airport
they were met by the Bolivian
DR.. Luis Fernando Qua |
and members of his staff. |
With the Minister and his staff and |
the two officers had |
luncheon at cafe adjoining the |
airport. During the luncheon it |
was decided, because of the delay, |
that the flyers would spend the |
night at Charleston. S. c., instead |
of trying to continue on to Jack
oollSlllS, L 1d'J dS Ildu Uccll pldIllltu
Good Will Flight Planned.
The flight was officially sponsored
by the Bolivian government and
plans called for a leisurely good
will fight through the United States
to Florida and across the Gulf
states to Brownsville, Tex, then
through Mexico, Central America,
Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Chile
on the way to La Paz, Bolivia The
plane, painted white and bearing
the Bolivian colors, had been named
Marshal of Ayacucho" in tribute
to Gen. Sucre, one of the generals
of Simon Bolivar, the great liberia
tor. Gen. Sucre was Bolivia's first
president. The plane was to have
been used as an Army transport for
the flying Of army officers.
After the luncheon the flyers re-