Evening star., 1949-12-16
Board Of Trade
Asks Alternate
Airport Here
Site at AnnunduIe
Mentioned to Relieve
Traffic Congestion

PCl OOAlO w VIC VOASAA IL oA4A oAAS PAcAiO
wreckage when Boiling crash boats
raced over the fog bound Potomac
to locate the Capital Airline's
|DC-3 which had plunged into the
nearby shadows.
Mr.. Shapiro, well-to-do New
York businessman, was the
brother of Mrs. William Cherto.
about so, of Brooklyn, N. Y, one
of four persons killed when the
DC-3 fell into the river while
making an instrument landing
approach to National Airport.
Wife Was at Bedside.
Mr.. Shapiro suffered multiple
crush injuries according to phy-
sicians at the special crash"
ward set up at Boiling. He was
given emergency blood transfu-
sions. His wife came here after
the accident and was at his bed
side when he died this morning.
Seventeen others who were hurt
in the crash are in various Dis
trict hospitals.
The pilot, co-pilot and two
passengers were killed at the time
of the crash.
Mr.. Shapiro's death was the
second among the 19 injured per-
sons taken ashore. George c.
Harrison, At, of 1921. North Six
teenth street, Arlington, Fed
eral purchasing agent, died yes
terday at Boiling Hospital
Funeral services for Mr.. Harri-
son will be held at 2:30 pm.
tomorrow at the Gawler funeral
home, 1855 Pennsylvania avenue
NV, followed by cremation.
Hearing May Be Delayed.
There were indications today
that the public hearing into the
crash may be delayed due to the
fact that the Civil Aeronautics
Board accident investigation staff
has been extended to capacity
because of recent accidents.
The mid-air collision which
killed SIS persons near National
Airport, on November still. was
under investigation when another
airliner crashed several weeks
later at Dallas, Tex, with a large
Iloss of life. CAB spokesmen said
every effort is being made, how
ever, to set the public hearing
here soon after the Christmas
holiday. 49,
Civil Aeronautics Administra-
ton and CAB experts were going
over, the wreckage today at. the
Naval Gun Factory. .,ea~~t
| Meanwhile, the CAA answered
charges by the American Aviation
Daily that Mondays crash might
have been avoided but for pro-
crastination" in installing high
intensity approach lights on the
instrument, or southern approach.
to the main north-south runway
here.
Pilots Protest Cited.
Old-fashioned lights of admitted
low visibility now mark the ap-
|proach over the Potomac shadows
in single line. Work on a new
double row of slope" approach
lights will be completed about
February /, the CAA announced.
The installation was delayed be-
cause of objection from the Air
Line Pilots Association to the dou-
BILE row of slope" lights mounted
in the river, it was said. The asso-
citation contended the "V"-shaped
row, supposed to funnel traffic into
the runway end, is more confusing
from the air than a single row Of
high-intensity lights.
The pilots say the sloping stand
ards of multiple lights throw con-
ffusing reflection on the water.
The CAA, however. is going
ahead with the new system. One
of this type already is in operation
at Idlewild, the new New York
airport, and a third will be COM
pleted in few days at Los Angeles.
In another development, Chair
man Crosser of the House Com
merce Committee said he plans
a broad investigation of recent
aircraft disasters.
Favors Old Safety Board.
He said he will demand revival
of the old Air Safety Board. which
Congress abolished over his pro-
tests in the 1930s, to take over that
phase of air control from the Civil
Aeronautics Board.
Il don't question the good faith
and intentions of the Civil Aero
nautics Board" he said.
But I am convinced we should
divorce safety from it's other
duties and place that RESPONSE
bility in the hands of an agency
answerable to no one but Con-
gress and free to exercise its own
good judgment"
Mr.. Crosser said he thinks it is
a mistake to charge an agency like
the CAB with safety and a variety
of other duties. He said his COM
mittee will inquire into indirect
as well as direct causes of air dis
asters and whether q combination
Of causes might be involved.
Will Check on Locations.
He wants to learn, he said,
whether the location and methods
of using airports might be factors
in some accidents, and whether
enough proved safety devices are
being used.
For instance, he said, he is in
terested in artificial methods Of
dissolving fog, to avert the need
for blind landings.
Mr.. Crosser said his committee
well. could examine the testimony
of experts who disagree on the