1936 — Sep 5, Skyways Sightseeing Plane Crash, Buttermilk Hollow, PA near Pittsburgh –10
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 11-19-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–10 Aviation Safety Network. Database, 1936. Pittsburgh Skyways Inc. crash, PA, 9-5-1936.
–10 Bradford Era, PA. “Extra Passenger May Have Caused…Crash Fatal to Ten.” 9-12-1936, 1
–10 Bradford Era, PA. “To Hold Joint Probe of Joy-Plane Crash.” 9-10-1936, p. 1.
–10 Charleston Gazette, WV. “Plane Bier Yields Ten.” 9-7-1936, pp. 1-2.
–10 Clearfield Progress, PA. “3 Funerals Today Complete Burials 10 Plane Victims.” 9-8-1936.
–10 NFPA. “Fires in which there was loss of life, 3rd Quarter, 1936.” Quarterly, 30/2, Oct 1936, p.180.
Narrative Information
Aviation Safety Network. Database, 1936. Pittsburgh Skyways Inc. crash, PA, 9-5-1936:
“Date: Saturday 5 September 1936
“Time: 21:15 LT
“Type: Stinson SM-6000B
“Owner/operator: Pittsburgh Skyways Inc.
“Registration: NC11175
“MSN: 5025
“Fatalities: 10 / Occupants: 11
“Other fatalities: 0
“Aircraft damage: Destroyed
“Location: Buttermilk Hollow, PA – USA
“Phase: En route
“Nature: Passenger – Non-Scheduled/charter/Air Taxi
“Departure airport: Allegheny County Airport, PA
….
“Narrative:
“Engines lost power when fuel selector valve was inadvertently switched off by passenger during local night sightseeing flight.”
Newspapers
Sep 6: “Pittsburgh, Sept. 6. – (AP) – Charred and tangled wreckage of a ‘joy-hopping’ airplane yielded the body of the tenth victim of a crash and roaring flames in isolated Buttermilk Hollow today. A gay party of sightseers boarded the ship last night, promised by operators:
‘A thrill or your money back.’ They had hoped to soar over the rugged hills and valleys surrounding the Allegheny county airport, look down on the brilliant lights of the county fair.
Pilot Clutches Wheel.
“They rode only a mile or two – died on the crest of a little knoll near a peach orchard in the hollow. Only the framework of the big ship remained, twisted and tangled by the flames.
All the bodies were burned beyond recognition. The pilot died clutching the wheel of his ship, his charred body slumped in his seat. Only one of the party survived – Linda McDonald of Miami, Fla., too ill from shock to talk of the crash.
Promised Thrill.
“Before going to a hospital the 17-year-old high school graduate who planned to enter college this fall, said: ‘There were six in our party and we weren’t particularly anxious about going up.’
‘But the man in the plane – he was from Miami, too – promised us a thrill or our money back.’
Miss McDonald told, too, of trying in vain to pull her escort, John A. Powers, 19, of Miami, from his seat in the ship and attempting to arouse other passengers before clambering from the wrecked plane and escaping the flames.
“Victims Listed. Airport attaches listed the victims as:
John A. Powers, of Miami, Fla., Linda’s escort.
Ruth Rollinger, 16, of Pittsburgh.
Marcia Dennison, 16, of Pittsburgh.
Phelan McShane, 19, of Pittsburgh.
William Leahy, of Pittsburgh.
Bradley Welfer, of Pittsburgh.
Andrew Wibmer, Munhall, Pa.
Mrs. Blanche Wibmer, Munhall, Pa.
Eric Beckley, 36-year-old pilot, Hazelwood, Pa.
Mrs. Ruth Slitteren, Utica, N.Y., sister-in-law of the pilot.
“Airport attaches said there was doubt whether the pilot, Eric and his nine passengers died from the crash or the flames.
Investigation Opened.
“Col. J. Carroll Cone, assistant director of the bureau of aeronautics, department of commerce, came from Washington today to conduct an inquiry. He will work with the Allegheny county coroner’s office and airport officials in an effort to determine what caused the ship to swerve suddenly from its accustomed, circular course about the airport and plunge to the ground.
“John Herron, on watch in the airport tower directing traffic over the big field used by transcontinental transport lines, gave his formal report:
Fatal accident occurred at 9:15 E.S.T. The Stinson tri-motor N.C. 11175, piloted by Eric Beckley and owned by Howard-Borandi, (Pittsburgh Skyways, Inc.) was traveling toward east-south-east, wind was south-east five. Tower cleared Pilot Beckley for west-east take-off at 9:12 p.m. with information regarding army transport ship eastbound over Barnesville, O., at 8:57 p.m. flying 5,000 feet southbound to Bolling Field.
Signed off to TWA flight seven and glanced to see where Beckley was. He was heading west approximately 400 feet above the ground, north-east of the field. He seemed to be losing altitude rapidly. Approximately five or six seconds later, the ship disappeared from view, and instantly a burst of flame became visible. The siren was blown several seconds before the ship actually crashed at 9:15.”
“Meade Cunningham, inspector for the bureau of aeronautics said the ship had been given inspections regularly, ‘and it wasn’t time for another checkup yet.’ ‘We are getting its log books and will go into the affair thoroughly.’
Curious Flock to Scene.
“Fire-fighting apparatus from the airport dashed toward the wreck immediately upon the sounding of the siren, but was unable to reach the scene quickly over narrow lanes through an orchard.
“Crowds at the airport and nearby fairgrounds rushed over the winding lanes. They scattered in terror after a gasoline tank in the shattered ship exploded and hurled flames high in the air. Today, other crowds pushed over the narrow dirt roads seeking a glimpse of the wreckage.
One farmer posted signs along a lane beside his fields reading: ‘25 cents to cross field and see wreck.’
Sees Friends Die.
“Pittsburgh, Sept. 6. – (AP) – A tall grey-haired man stood beside the smouldering wreckage of a sight-seeing airplane early today and muttered, ‘three friends of mine are in there dead. It’s all my fault. I can’t believe its true,’ continued L. K. Helm, of Pittsburgh. ‘It seems like a nightmare. There’s three friends of mine in there and I asked them to go for the ride. I was supposed to ride with them. I gave up my seat so that a party of six, including those from Miami (all killed) could go up. I brought Leshy (William Leshy, Pittsburgh) and his cousins, (Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Wibmer of Munhall) here for the ride. Now, look, there they are – dead’.” (Charleston Gazette, WV. “Plane Bier Yields Ten.” 9-7-1936, pp. 1-2.)
Sep 8: “Pittsburgh, Sept. 8 – (AP) – Three more funerals today will complete the burials of 10 persons who died Saturday night in the flame-swept wreckage, of a ‘Skyways’ sight-seeing airplane near the Allegheny County Airport.
“Three Federal air officials announced their investigation of the tragedy was complete. They returned to Washington without disclosing their theory of the cause. They said they received a coherent account of the accident from the lone survivor, 17-year-old Linda McDonald of Miami, Fla., who crashed through a window.
“Pittsburgh, Sept. 6 – (AP) – The sight-seeing plane which crashed and burned Saturday night, killing 10 persons, was piloted by Eric Beckley, owner, to whom each of those aboard had paid $1. As it circled back for a landing after taking off perfectly one motor stopped and the crash followed….” (Clearfield Progress, PA. “3 Funerals Today Complete Burials 10 Plane Victims.” 9-8-1936, p. 1.)
Sep 9: “Pittsburgh, Sept 9. (AP) — Coroner W. J. McGregor announced today a joint investigation and inquest into the deaths of 10 sight-seeing passengers in nearby Buttermilk Hollow will be held Friday or Saturday. Government investigators also are planning an open inquiry at the same time. The coroner said the inquest will be held without a jury.” (Bradford Era, PA. “To Hold Joint Probe of Joy-Plane Crash.” 9-10-1936, p. 1.)
Sep 11: “Pittsburgh, Sept. 11. (AP) – A mechanic told government investigators inquiring into the death of 10 persons aboard the sightseeing monoplane ‘Skyways’ today that the ‘extra passenger’ aboard might have caused the ship to crash. The witness, Herbert Miller, said the ‘extra,’ Mrs. Ruth Sliter, 22 of Utica, N.Y., could have inadvertently shut off the gasoline or tangled her feet in the controls. Mrs. Sliter, the sister-in-law of the pilot, Eric Beckley, got on the plane at the last minute before it took off on a $1-a-ride excursion around peaceful Buttermilk hollow. The mechanic said the plane was airworthy.” (Bradford Era, PA. “Extra Passenger May Have Caused…Crash Fatal to Ten.” 9-12-1936, p. 1.)
Sources
Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation. Database, 1936. Pittsburgh Skyways Inc. crash, Buttermilk Hollow, PA, 9-5-1936. Accessed 11-19-2024 at: https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/145964
Bradford Era, PA. “Extra Passenger May Have Caused Airplane Crash Fatal to Ten.” 9-12-1936, 1. At: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=140357184
Bradford Era, PA. “To Hold Joint Probe of Joy-Plane Crash [Buttermilk Hollow, PA].” 9-10-1936, p. 1. At: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=140357154
Charleston Gazette, WV. “Plane Bier Yields Ten [Buttermilk Hollow, PA].” 9-7-1936, pp. 1-2. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=40358138
Clearfield Progress, PA. “3 Funerals Today Complete Burials 10 [PA] Plane Victims.” 9-8-1936, 1. At: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=11175491
National Fire Protection Association. “Fires in Which There Was Loss of Life, Third Quarter, 1936.” Quarterly of the National Fire Protection Association, Vol. 30, No. 2, October 1936, p. 180.