’PLANE CRASHED AT ‘FRISCO

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 357, 11 February 1937, Page 5

’PLANE CRASHED AT ‘FRISCO

ELEVEN KILLED. TRANSPORT 'PLANE. I Huge Air-liner Fell Into The Bay. Press Association —Copyright. San Francisco, Feb. 10. A transport aeroplane w(th eleven persons aboard plunged into San Francisco Bay when en route from Los Angeles to the San Francisco airport to-day. The splash and the roar were heard in a village three miles away. Coastguard and police boats rushed to the scene and placed flares in the water, but no sign of the aeroplane was found an hour later. The water at the spot where (tie aeroplane struck the bay is extremely deep. Officials of the air line to which the machine belonged Were unable to explain the cause of the accident. The sky was clear at the time. A further message received at noon to-day from San Francisco reports that 11 occupants of the ’plane have been given up as dead. Eight of them were representatives of wealthy society business interests, including Mr. Mark Fontana, a petroleum millionaire. The huge 21-passenger Douglas airliner was found floating upside-down and partially submerged. Efforts to tow it ashore were unsuccessful and a derrick and a diver were ordered to the scene. Ambulances and doctors remained throughout the night at the airport, although it seemed certain that the occupants were dead. The ship apparently landed on its nose and was hurled back. The fuselage appeared intact, but the tail was badly smashed. Experienced pilots have suggested that Pilot Tommy Thompson, although a veteran flier, misjudged the altitude. The dispatcher at the airport stated that he conversed by wireless with Thompson and gave him landing instructions. He was then amazed to see the aeroplane circle and head out to sea. Since December 15, 43 persons havs been killed in five crashes in the Far West.