Evening star., 1955-01-12
IS on Two Planes Are Killed
In Mid-Air Crash in Kentucky
Neur Cincinnuti's Airport
One Had l3 Aboard;
Bodies Are Seen
Over Wide Area
Dy III. Associated Pres,

BURLINGTON, KY. Jan. H.
Fifteen persons were killed to-
day in a mid-air collision Of two
twin-engine planes several miles
southwest Of the Greater Gin
cinnati Airport. The airport Is
10 miles southwest Of Cincinnati.
One plane, a Trans World Air
lines Martin, was en- route to
Dayton and Cleveland with 10
passengers and q crew Of three
aboard. The other, DC3, was
owned by the National Carbon
Coated Paper Co.. of Sturgis.
Mich. It had left Kellogg Field.
Battle Greek, at Z am. with a
pilot and co-pilot aboard.
At. Frankfort, KY. spokesmen
for the State Aeronautics De-
partment and State police said
their reports indicated that the
planes collided and exploded.
Bodies repeatedly were being re-
moved by sled over the snow.
Fall 2 Miles Apart.
John Hedrick. operator of a
flying service, told newsmen
after q fight over the area that
the planes fell about 2 miles
apart.
Mr.. Hedrick said only the tail
assemblies were visible from his
plane.
ave circled it two or three
times" he said. There's very
little left Of it. Wreckage Is still
st1noldering."
TWA identified the crew mem
bers of its plane as Capt. j. w.
Quinn, Al, Belleville, Mich; r.
Childress. co-pilot, Ann Arbor.
Mich, and Miss Pat Stermer.
hostess, Ypsilanti, Mich.
The DC-3 was piloted by Ar
thur (Slim) Werkhaven, Sturgis,
Mich, and Edward Agner. Battle
Creek, was co-pilot.
This plane was to have pro-
ceeded to Lexington, KY, to pick
up, Mr.. and Mrs. Frederick Van
Lennep, wealthy Detroit race
horse owners. Mrs. Van Lennep.
the former Frances Dodge, is an
officer in the firm which owned
the plane.
The plane then was scheduled
to carry the Van Lenneps to
Del Ray. Fla.
Both Pilot Werkhaven and Co
Pilot Agner were married and
each had two children. They
were employed as test pilots on
bombers produced at Willow Run
Airport outside Detroit during
World War II.
First TWA Crash Since 1914.
Paul D. Strahm Of Columbia.
TWA passenger representative.
said it was the first domestic
accident experienced by TWA
airliners since December /, 1914.
The line has carried 1881 ,070
passengers during the nonfatal-
ity period.
In New York a Civil Aeronau-
tics Administration spokesman
said radio messages from the
TWA plane shortly after it took
of ut Covington, KY, indicated
the pilot was alarmed and
excited"
The spokesman said the pilot
was cleared for the takeoff, and
then to make a right turn out.
AS the plane climbed. the Of
fetal said. the pilot identified
himself and ''his voice trailed
of and faded and he seemed to
be alarmed and excited"
The CAA spokesman said
there was no record of flight
plan for the other plane.
List Of Passengers.
In New York. TWA said these
passengers were aboard Its
plane:
Joseph Cohen. Cleveland.
Ralph z. Emig, Cincinnati.
r. II. Leler. Highland Park.
III.
c. w. Neu, Mariemount. Ohio.
John L. Hague. Cincinnati.
Harry c. Reinwald, Chicago.
II. Rooney, Lewiston, Idaho.
Robert Sobul. Columbus, Ohio.
John A. Tint. Fort Thomas.
KY.
Another name, Wharton, stood
alone, except that q person Of
that name arrived in Cincin-
natl from Cleveland last Monday.