Evening star., 1950-06-07
Investigation Pressed
In GAG Crash Which
Caused Deaths OF 2S
BY the Assoeiofsd Press

S& WS~W ~~~hbb0 w. nv
BY the Asseeiofsd Press
MIAMI, Fla, June T.-Ar
investigation began today int
the crash of a C-46 plane in which
% Puerto Ricans apparently los
their lives.
Representatives Of the Civil
Aeronautics Board and the Puerto
Rican government flew to Sar
Juan and Charleston. s. c., te
open inquiries.
The destroyer U. s. 8. Saufley
steamed toward Charleston with
81 survivors. 1t was due to doci
at 4 pm.
Eight were known dead anc
scant hope was held for 20 other.
aboard the twin-engine plane tha1
went down IN the Atlantic 27s
miles east-northeast of Miam
Monday night.
The 165-foot cutter Aurora
three Coast Guard planes and one
Air Force craft continued tt
search the area for possible sur.
vivors, but officials said there was
little hope Of finding any more.
The pilot, co-pilot and steward
were among those rescued from
the plane, which was enroute from
San Juan to Wilmington, N. C..
with 62 Puerto Rican migrant
workers aboard.
Fernando Sierra. Puerto Ricar
commissioner Of labor, flew tc
Charleston to meet the survivors
He was accompanied by Howard
Davidson, assistant to the director
Of the Employment and Immigra-
ton Bureau of the Department OF
Labor Of Puerto Rico.
Investigators on Way.
A representative of Westair Co..
operators Of the plane, also was to
meet the Sauf1ey at Charleston.
The CAB said in Washington
that Gordon Matthews, assistant
chief Of its accident investigation
branch, flew to San Juan to begin
an immediate inquiry there.
The Civil Aeronautics Admin
istration said the airline operators
currently are under investigation
for alleged violation of safety reg
ulations.
A complaint was filed with the
CAB in October against the West
air Co. of Seattle, Wash, the CAA
said.
The complaint asked for revo-
cation of the company's operating
authority. 1t alleged the COM
pany's planes had been over
loaded, that equipment had been
operated while not in good condi-
ton, and that there had been
other departures from Federal
regulations.
Hearings Completed.
A CAB examiner completed
hearings on the complaint last
month, but has not yet submitted
his findings.
Irving H. Mansfield, treasurer
OF Westair Co., said many of the
charges were based on badly
confused" or actually perjured'
testimony.
In statement issued at Miami,
Mr.. Mansfield said the San Juan
Wilmington route had been
check flown and blapproved as
very satisfactory" by CAA Off
cials. He pointed out that the
pilot had % years flying expert
ence, with more than 1000 hours
in the air.
"The aircraft we are using are
licensed and operated under the
same specifications as Pan Ameri-
can World Airways." Mr.. Mans
field said. THE engine which
failed and caused this tragedy
came from a CAA-approved re-
pair station"
GAG Was Approved.
Reports from San Juan said the
Gas passed inspection before tax
ing off at 5::24 pm. Monday. II
carried seven 10-man life RATS
and IS Mae West life jackets.
The migratory workers aboard
were among more than 5000 being
flown to this country to help
harvest crops.
The plane was the same type
as one that went into the Atlantic
on June 7, 1949. a few minutes
after taking off from San Juan
for Miami. killing So persons.
Another Miami bound charter
plane disappeared on a flight
from San Juan on December q
1948, with 80 aboard.