Evening star., 1951-12-17
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liner-one that takes off on an
irregular schedule. usually when
it has full load. The plane
was operated by Miami Airline,
Inc. The line has been in opera
ton since March. 1916, and its
five planes have flown more than
100 million passenger miles.
The Inflated plane seemed to
be in trouble even before it cleared
the ground in its takeoff. It's
right engine was smoking badly.
and emergency crews had sprung
to an alert.
State and Federal officials be-
gan an immediate investigation
into the tragedy, goaded by the
anger Of townspeople who long
have complained of the shudder-
ing. terrifying thunder of plane
takeoffS.
Only few weeks ago. residents
of Elizabeth threatened to block
Newark Airport runways with
their bodies to end takeoffs over
their homes. As a result, the Port
Of New York Authority-which
operates Newark Airport-under-
took to build new runway point
ing to the sea instead of toward
Newark and Elizabeth.
Said State Senator Kenneth C.
Hand, who called the protest
meeting and was on the scene Of
yesterdays crash:
1T was only a miracle that hun
dreds of people weren't killed.
Apparently the plane missed
apartment houses by small frac-
ton.
Maybe this will make the Civil
Aeronautics Authority realize that
you can't have airports so close
to heavily congested cities"
"It is too early to make any
statements. but we are now in the
initial stage Of securing records"
said Joseph o. Fluet of the Civil
Aeronautics Board, who heads one
investigation.
Five Pronged Investigation.
The crash seemed almost GER
tain to arouse fear and anger in
New York City across the Hudson
River. There the Port Authority
operates heavily used La Guardia
Field and Idlewild Airport. And
residents there have protested al
most as strongly as in Elizabeth.
Mr.. Fluet, chief inspector in the
New York area for the CAB. said
his agency was Joined in the
investigation of the crash by the
State, Union County, the CAA and
local police.
These bodies. he added. "were
charged with the responsibility of
determining the cause and any
contributory action in connection
with the crash for the primary
purpose of taking any preventive
action necessary"
Said Union County Prosecutor
Edward Cohen:
IF there is any evidence that
o crime is involved. then the
parties responsible for it will be
prosecuted in this county,"
Two Co-pilots.
Besides Capt. Lyons. the plane
carried two co-pilots. J. r. Mason
and Edward Lilly, both of Miami.
The stewardess, Doris Helms, also
was from Miami. Capt. Lyons,
who learned to fly when he was
16, was an instructor at Riddle
Airfield near Clewiston, Fla. dur
ing the World War II.
Most of the passengers were
from New Jersey and New York.
A few were from New England,
as far north as Maine. Some were
returning to their homes in
Florida.
Despite an annoying delay of
hours in the takeoff. passengers
were gay as they trooped aboard
for Christmas holidays in the
South.
Saw Family Aboard.
Robert Collins watched the
plane take off carrying his
mother. Bertha, SIS; his sister. Mrs.
Ann Connors, 21, and his two
nephews, one 2 years old and one
z months. He said afterwards, his
voice brittle from the shock:
Every seat was taken. We had
been at the airport since early
morning for the scheduled takeoff.
But there was a delay and an air.
line official said the heaters
weren't working. Finally. about 3
o'clock the plane took off.
"The right engine on the plane
was smoking very badly on the
takeoff and it took the whole
length of the field before it rose
about SO feet"
Mr.. Collins said he saw two fire
engines head toward the plane
when field officials sensed it was
In trouble. But the vehicles were
left in the backwash as the plane
was airborne.
Turned Plane Back.
Capt. Lyons seemed to realize
his trouble and turned the plane
around to go back to Newark. But
its plume Of black smoke mush-
roomed into ghastly vivid orange