Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-11-14
Crash
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ing record was offered by Robert
E. Bell of Alexandria, aviation
safety agent for the CAA.
Mr.. Bell said Capt. Rios made
the unauthorized flight in a sur
plus aircraft just seven days be-
fore the fatal crash with an East
ern Airlines passenger plane.
He said the Bolivian bought a
surplus Navy Howard plane at
Beacon Field. early in August. He
was told then that the plane was
not airworthy. but was given per-
mission to fly it to National Air
port after full clearance with the
tower by CAA.
Unfamiliar With Traffic.
The pilot indicated he was not
too familiar with the traffic pat
tern at National and asked Mr..
Bell to clear his approach by tele-
phone, the witness testified.
About October "a. the CAA
man said. the Howard plane was
flown back to Beacon Field by
Capt. Rios. He was told~by Mr..
Bell that the plane should not be
flown until its air worthiness had
been established and a new,
valid permit issued.
Ninety minutes later. the Bo-
livian few the plane away in
violation of the CAA instruction.
Mr.. Bell testified.
In connection with the testimony
on the mechanical condition of the
P-38, it was revealed that Hasson
Galloway of Atlanta, few the plane
in the Bendix cross-country race
to the Cleveland national air races
in August, 1916.
Engine Failed in Race.
The racing pilot said he few the
plane a total of 13 hours around
Indianapolis and to Los Angeles
for the cross country take-off. He
wrote the inquiry that the engines
were called on to produce more
than usual power" in his effort to
win the race. but that one Of the
engines failed and he had to drop
out of the competition at Toledo,
Ohio. after crossing most of the
continent.
This testimony was brought out
in an effort to shed light on Capt.
Rios story that he had engine
trouble over National Airport. The
engines are not designed to oper-
ate on full throttle, 1t was ex-,
planned. as was the case during
the cross-country race. There was
no testimony, however. that the
aircraft had been modified or
"souped-up" for the race.
Mr.. Sonner testified that as far
as he could determine the airplane
had only 80 hours and S minutes
in the air.
Was, Given Oral Examination.
Harold A. Jones, a member of
the Civil Aeronautics Board which
is conducting the inquiry. ques-
toned Mr.. Bell closely about the
fact that Capt. Rios received a
grade of only Al in radio commu-
nications when 70 is the passing
mark in the commercial pilots IL
cenSe test. He made the point
that radio procedures to be used
In communicating with the tower
for proper landings, takeoffs and
navigation are essential to safe
operation around busy airports.
Mr.. Bell declared that Capt.
Rios was given an oral examine
ton on radio procedures and civil
air regulations before he received
his limited pilots certificate In
July, l947.
Mr.. Bell explained that Capt.
Rios held a commercial pilots Ger
tificate in Bolivia and presented
his flight log books to show he
had flown aircraft $500 hours,
including a years service as a
commercial transport pilot in Bo-
livia.
Excluded instrument Flying.
The limited certificate, which
prohibits operations on instru-
ments or the flying of passengers
and cargo for hire, was issued
on the basis of the Bolivian GER
tificate, along with the fact that
Capt. Rios had graduated from
basic advanced and transport
training schools of the United
States Air Force. The medical
certificate given to Capt. Rios was
issued on the basis Of one he had
received in Bolivia, it was said.
Mr.. Jones said the Federal Com
munications Commission issued
permits to operate an airborne
two-way radio on the basis Of the
CAA pilots certificate. He said Il
was his understanding that thu
FEC was primarily interested Il
learn If the applicant knew how *
operate the radio equipment.
The expert testified that appli.
cants for limited pilots certificate.
are not examined closely on radit
communication technique beealfS(