Page:Aviation Accident Investigation - Knowles Flying Service - 18 May 1935.pdf/1

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To the Secretary of Commerce:

On May 15, 1935 at about 6:33 p.m. at the Municipal Airport, Flint, Michigan, a commercially owned aircraft, carrying passengers for hire, was forced to the ground with resultant death to the pilot and two passengers, serious injuries to six passengers, minor injuries to three passengers and complete destruction of the aircraft.

The plane, a Ford, model 4-AT-E, was owned my the Knowles Flying service of Detroit and bore Department of Commerce license number HC-7864. The pilot, Theodore E. Knowles, holder of a Department of Commerce transport pilot's license, was killed in the accident. The passengers killed were Mrs. Mary Rushlow of Flint, Michigan, and her son, Conrad Rushlow, aged 7. The severely injured were Clement D. Rushlow, Marilyn Rushlow, Dewitt Elwood,, Harwick, Ann Criese and Alfred Anderson. Those receiving minor injuries were Milfred Anderson, Joseph Fetzer and John Skolurk.

Knowles had been flying passengers on short trips around the airport practically all day. His attention was called to the fact that he had not replenished his fuel supply since the previous day and on inspecting his car skaters stated that he still had sufficient fuel for two more flights but would take on fuel after one more flight. He then taxied across the field to take off

On the take-off the right outboard engine was misfiring and just after clearing the north boundary of the airport and at an altitude of approximately 75 feet, this engine stopped entirely. The pilot immediately made a 90° Turn to the right and flew parallel with the airport until reaching the NE corner. Evidence indicates that the center engine stopped at this time, leaving only the left outboard engine functioning. The altitude of the plane was then between 100 and 150 feet. The pilots at this point attempted a right downwind turn in an effort to effect a landing on the airport but due to loss of flying speed in the pool of the left outboard engine, the plane stalled, started a spin to the right and struck the ground was the right wing and then founded over on its nose and the left wing, finally coming to rest with the nose in the ground and the tail up in the air.

The cabin of the plane was only slightly damaged. An examination of the safety belts indicated that only a few of them were used and it was further learned that the passengers were neither instructed in their use nor cautioned to use them and those passengers most seriously injured did not have their safety belts fastened.