1934 United Airlines Utah crash

United Airlines 1934 Utah crash
Accident
Date 23 February 1934 (1934-02-23)
Summary Weather, CFIT
Site Parley's Canyon, Summit County, Utah
Aircraft
Aircraft type Boeing 247
Operator United Airlines
Registration NC13357
Flight origin Salt Lake City, Utah
Destination Cheyenne, Wyoming
Passengers 5
Crew 3
Fatalities 8
Survivors 0

The United Airlines 1934 Utah crash was an accident involving a Boeing Air Transport-operated United Airlines scheduled flight of a Boeing 247, which crashed in bad weather shortly after departing Salt Lake City, Utah, on February 23, 1934, killing all eight on board. The cause was not immediately determined, but poor weather was considered a factor.

History of flight

At 1400 hrs. on Friday, February 23, 1934, United Airlines Boeing 247, NC13357, c/n 1739,[1][2] departed Salt Lake City, Utah, bound for Cheyenne, Wyoming. The weather was poor, with snow and sleet throughout the region, with up to seven inches of snow accumulating in the lowlands and even more at higher altitudes.[3]

"The last word received by radio from the ill-fated plane was when pilot Lloyd Anderson signalled "All Okay" 20 minutes after the departure. When the plane did not arrive at Cheyenne on schedule, an immediate search was started."[4]

Throughout Saturday, February 24, aircraft covered the routes the missing airliner might have travelled, and the United Airlines office at Salt Lake City made phone calls "to all points in the vicinity. None of the efforts brought any definite trace of the lost plane."[5] "Little hope remained for the safety of the crew or passengers of the plane, which it was believed must have crashed in the clouds and fog. Its fuel supply, United Air Lines officials said, would have been exhausted by 6:30 yesterday."[6]

Discovery

H. D. T. Lewis, chief of the United Airlines at Chicago, arrived Sunday to take charge.[7] "Chief Pilot H. T. 'Slim' Lewis and his assistant, Leon D. Cuddeback, tonight ordered a search with Rock Springs, Wyo., as the center. As darkness approached they landed a United Air Lines transport plane there, placed its eight passengers on a train to continue their journey westward, and prepared to pursue the search. Tommy Thompson, veteran United pilot, was in charge of the plane."[8]

"The search from the air began at daybreak today (February 24), when two planes left the Salt Lake airport. Later it was joined by other pilots of the United Air lines [sic] and by Lieut. Frank Crismon, a reserve army pilot. Army air mail planes were storm bound here (Salt Lake City) today, unable to lend their aid to the hunt. They were aided by ground parties who threaded the mountains east of here in the slim hope of lighting upon the wrecked plane." Weather, which Frank Caldwell, operations manager for United, called "the worst in the history of flying in this region," hampered rescue workers throughout the day.[9]

"Eight planes were sent up, two from Rock Springs, Wyoming, and six from Salt Lake. Lewis decided that the search be concentrated in the rugged mountains only a short distance from the valley where lies Salt Lake. 'That plane is not more than 50 miles from here,' he said. He was right. Don Broughton and Ed Greer, United Airlines pilots, flew over the area known as Parley's canyon. They were flying close to the ground following the beacon lights that mark the eastward route. Suddenly they sighted the plane, nose down, nearly buried in the deep snow on the side of the canyon. The nose was between two giant pine trees which stood on either side of the plane, almost hiding it from sight."[10]

"There was an ominous lack of any sign of life about the plane when one of the searching pilots, whose efforts to locate it previously had been thwarted by snow and clouds, spotted it near a canyon in Salt Lake valley."[11][12] "Broughton radioed the airline headquarters at Salt Lake City. He reported that there was no sign of life."[13]

Recovery

A motor caravan was organized at Salt Lake City. Members waded through snow four feet deep for four miles to reach the crash site. "Irvin L. Davis, United Press correspondent, was among the first to reach the plane. Although his feet were so badly frozen that he collapsed, he managed to telephone to the office here (Salt Lake City) the first definite word of the fate of the passengers and crew. Leon D. Cuddeback, assistant to Lewis, was the first company official to arrive. He reported that the plane was wedged between the trees in such a position that it was almost vertical."[14]

"Searching parties found the bodies piled on top of one another in the wrecked plane last night (February 25) at the head of Parley's canyon, just 35 miles east of Salt Lake City." It was believed that all died instantly. The pilot's wrist watches had stopped at 1505 hrs.[15]

Victims

Crew

Lloyd Anderson, the flight's pilot, had more than 7,000 hours of flight time. "He gained his first flying experience at Los Angeles and obtained his license in 1926. After completing his flying course he barnstormed and instructed on the west coast and later opened a temporary line between Mexicali, Mazatlan and Mexico City. He flew this route for a time.[16] "He also surveyed and opened a mail line between Mazatlan and Brownsville, Texas, and later was with C. A. T., flying between El Paso, Texas, and Mexico City. He surveyed a route between Chihuahua, Mexico, and Nogales, Ariz., and flew this route for two years.[17] Anderson joined the staff of United June 15, 1931, as a reserve pilot at Omaha and came here a short time later, flying between Omaha and Salt Lake City."[18]

Anderson was 32 years old, was married, and had one son, 3 years old. "Company records showed he was born in Canada but the town was not indicated."[19]

"Piloting the ill-fated plane was Lloyd Anderson of Cheyenne, with co-pilot Eric G. Danielson, also of Cheyenne and with Miss Mary Carter of Cheyenne, formerly of Omaha and Chattanooga, Tenn., the stewardess and only woman aboard."[20]

Danielson was born in Uppsala, Sweden, and came to the United States as a child. He received his air training in the army, and was stationed at March Field, California, Kelly Field, Texas, and at Fort Crockett, Texas. He completed his student flying in 1931, and later was a pilot in the Texas National Guard. "He joined the United Air Lines staff July 3, 1933. He was 29 years old. His mother, Mrs. P. J. Danielson, resides at Spokane, Wash."[21]

Mary E. Carter was born in Atlanta, Georgia. She was 24. "Miss Carter studied nursing at Chattanooga, Tenn., and was graduated as a nurse in 1927. She joined United Air Lines April 25, 1932, at Cheyenne and had been assigned to the route between Chicago and Salt Lake City. Her mother, Mrs. B. Carter, lives at Chattanooga.[22]

Passengers

The five passengers were E. L. Walker, of Rock Springs, Wyoming; J. J. Sterling, of Benton Harbor, Michigan; Bert McLaughlin, of Perry, Iowa; Evald W. Berglund, of Boone, Iowa; and Marcellus Zinsmaster, of Des Moines, Iowa.[23]

Crash site

The search party found the wreckage with the "nose buried deep in the earth and its broken tail standing upwards. Every part of it, except the wings, which were cracked, was smashed. In the front of the interior the mangled bodies were heaped, that of Miss Carter on the top, indicating, it was believed, that she was in the rear of the cabin when the liner hurtled into the mountain."[24]

It had crossed the summit of the pass and had proceeded about three quarters of a mile on the other side when it dived. "The plane had apparently flown straight into the ground at high speed. The nose was thrust into the earth, the rear end was sticking into the air and the tale was broken off. Each wing and the body rested on three nearby pine trees."[25]

The body of the stewardess was intact. Those of the two pilots and five passengers "were so horribly mangled identification was possible only through jewelry and clothing."[26]

"The body of Miss Carter rested on top of the other occupants when the rescue party reached the scene. They were extricated with great difficulty and it was necessary to tear the wreckage apart to remove them. Judge John C. Green, coroner of Summit county [sic], took charge of the bodies as they were removed from the wreckage. The overcoats of the victims were used as stretchers and they were carried over two miles of snowy trail, through heavy brush and rough country, to a roadhouse on the highway at the summit of Parley's canyon, from there they were brought to Salt Lake City in an ambulance."[27]

Investigation

Two investigations into the cause of the accident were underway on February 27, at Salt Lake City. One inquiry was launched by the Department of Commerce, under E. E. Hughes, aeronautics inspector, and E. L. Yuravich, airline inspector. The other was conducted by D. B. Colyer, of Chicago, vice president of United Airlines.[28][29] Company officials were unable to hazard a guess as to the cause of the crash, "due to the fact that the plane was so nearly demolished."[30]

Both groups returned from the crash site in the Wasatch Mountains to Salt Lake City on the night of February 26, but both admitted to an inability to reach any conclusions. Unfavorable weather, they agreed, was a contributing factor.[31]

Hughes ventured the opinion a definite determination of the tragedy appeared impossible. "I don't know whether we will ever be able to determine the cause of the crash," said Colyer. "And it wouldn't be right to advance all the theory mentioned."[32]

Colyer was assisted in his investigation by F. E. Caldwell, of Cheyenne, operations manager; John Maxzell, of Salt Lake City, another operations manager; and a staff of pilots.[33]

References

  1. ↑ http://rzjets.net/aircraft/?page=2&typeid=394
  2. ↑ http://www.planecrashinfo.com/1934/1934-3.htm
  3. ↑ Associated Press, "Eight Aboard Plane Feared Dead as Day Of Search Is Futile - Blizzard Cripples Search as Air Liner's Fate Unknown but Survival Doubtful", The San Bernardino Daily Sun, San Bernardino, California, Sunday 25 February 1934, Volume 40, page 1.
  4. ↑ United Press, "Wreckage Giant Air Liner And Its Eight Victims Located", Madera Daily Tribune and Madera Mercury, Madera, California, Monday 26 February 1934, Volume LXIII, Number 96, page 1.
  5. ↑ United Press, "Wreckage Giant Air Liner And Its Eight Victims Located", Madera Daily Tribune and Madera Mercury, Madera, California, Monday 26 February 1934, Volume LXIII, Number 96, page 1.
  6. ↑ Associated Press, "Eight Aboard Plane Feared Dead as Day Of Search Is Futile - Blizzard Cripples Search as Air Liner's Fate Unknown but Survival Doubtful", The San Bernardino Daily Sun, San Bernardino, California, Sunday 25 February 1934, Volume 40, page 1.
  7. ↑ United Press, "Wreckage Giant Air Liner And Its Eight Victims Located", Madera Daily Tribune and Madera Mercury, Madera, California, Monday 26 February 1934, Volume LXIII, Number 96, page 1.
  8. ↑ Associated Press, "Eight Feared Dead As Plane Down In Wilds - Transport Ship Can't Be Found By Searchers as Heavy Snow Hampers Search From Air", The San Bernardino Daily Sun, San Bernardino, California, Sunday 25 February 1934, Volume 40, page 2.
  9. ↑ Associated Press, "Eight Feared Dead As Plane Down In Wilds - Transport Ship Can't Be Found By Searchers as Heavy Snow Hampers Search From Air", The San Bernardino Daily Sun, San Bernardino, California, Sunday 25 February 1934, Volume 40, page 2.
  10. ↑ United Press, "Wreckage Giant Air Liner And Its Eight Victims Located", Madera Daily Tribune and Madera Mercury, Madera, California, Monday 26 February 1934, Volume LXIII, Number 96, page 1.
  11. ↑ Associated Press, "21 Killed; Many Injured In Storms", The Lewiston Daily Sun, Lewiston, Maine, Monday 26 February 1934, Volume LXI, page 2.
  12. ↑ https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jj5HAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3PMMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3811%2C4059511
  13. ↑ United Press, "Wreckage Giant Air Liner And Its Eight Victims Located", Madera Daily Tribune and Madera Mercury, Madera, California, Monday 26 February 1934, Volume LXIII, Number 96, page 1.
  14. ↑ United Press, "Wreckage Giant Air Liner And Its Eight Victims Located", Madera Daily Tribune and Madera Mercury, Madera, California, Monday 26 February 1934, Volume LXIII, Number 96, page 1.
  15. ↑ United Press, "Wreckage Giant Air Liner And Its Eight Victims Located", Madera Daily Tribune and Madera Mercury, Madera, California, Monday 26 February 1934, Volume LXIII, Number 96, page 1.
  16. ↑ Associated Press, "Eight Feared Dead As Plane Down In Wilds - Transport Ship Can't Be Found By Searchers as Heavy Snow Hampers Search From Air", The San Bernardino Daily Sun, San Bernardino, California, Sunday 25 February 1934, Volume 40, page 2.
  17. ↑ Pusey, Otis J., Associated Press writer, "Missing Air Liner Found Wrecked; All Dead, Terrific Crash Indicated", The San Bernardino Daily Sun, San Bernardino, California, Monday 26 February 1934, Volume 40, page 2.
  18. ↑ Associated Press, "Eight Feared Dead As Plane Down In Wilds - Transport Ship Can't Be Found By Searchers as Heavy Snow Hampers Search From Air", The San Bernardino Daily Sun, San Bernardino, California, Sunday 25 February 1934, Volume 40, page 2.
  19. ↑ Pusey, Otis J., Associated Press writer, "Missing Air Liner Found Wrecked; All Dead, Terrific Crash Indicated", The San Bernardino Daily Sun, San Bernardino, California, Monday 26 February 1934, Volume 40, page 2.
  20. ↑ Associated Press, "Eight Aboard Plane Feared Dead as Day Of Search Is Futile - Blizzard Cripples Search as Air Liner's Fate Unknown but Survival Doubtful", The San Bernardino Daily Sun, San Bernardino, California, Sunday 25 February 1934, Volume 40, page 1.
  21. ↑ Pusey, Otis J., Associated Press writer, "Missing Air Liner Found Wrecked; All Dead, Terrific Crash Indicated", The San Bernardino Daily Sun, San Bernardino, California, Monday 26 February 1934, Volume 40, page 2.
  22. ↑ Pusey, Otis J., Associated Press writer, "Missing Air Liner Found Wrecked; All Dead, Terrific Crash Indicated", The San Bernardino Daily Sun, San Bernardino, California, Monday 26 February 1934, Volume 40, page 2.
  23. ↑ Associated Press, "Eight Aboard Plane Feared Dead as Day Of Search Is Futile - Blizzard Cripples Search as Air Liner's Fate Unknown but Survival Doubtful", The San Bernardino Daily Sun, San Bernardino, California, Sunday 25 February 1934, Volume 40, page 1.
  24. ↑ Pusey, Otis J., Associated Press writer, "Missing Air Liner Found Wrecked and Eight Persons Dead", The San Bernardino Daily Sun, San Bernardino, California, Monday 26 February 1934, Volume 40, page 1.
  25. ↑ Pusey, Otis J., Associated Press writer, "Missing Air Liner Found Wrecked; All Dead, Terrific Crash Indicated", The San Bernardino Daily Sun, San Bernardino, California, Monday 26 February 1934, Volume 40, page 2.
  26. ↑ Pusey, Otis J., Associated Press writer, "Missing Air Liner Found Wrecked and Eight Persons Dead", The San Bernardino Daily Sun, San Bernardino, California, Monday 26 February 1934, Volume 40, page 1.
  27. ↑ Pusey, Otis J., Associated Press writer, "Missing Air Liner Found Wrecked; All Dead, Terrific Crash Indicated", The San Bernardino Daily Sun, San Bernardino, California, Monday 26 February 1934, Volume 40, page 2.
  28. ↑ Associated Press, "Two Pennsylvania Train Wrecks Add to Storm Toll", The San Bernardino Daily Sun, San Bernardino, California, Tuesday 27 February 1934, Volume 40, page 2.
  29. ↑ United Press, Crash Of Air Liner Probed", Madera Daily Tribune and Madera Mercury, Madera, California, Tuesday 27 February 1934, Volume LXIII, Number 97, page 1.
  30. ↑ Pusey, Otis J., Associated Press writer, "Missing Air Liner Found Wrecked; All Dead, Terrific Crash Indicated", The San Bernardino Daily Sun, San Bernardino, California, Monday 26 February 1934, Volume 40, page 2.
  31. ↑ Associated Press, "Two Pennsylvania Train Wrecks Add to Storm Toll", The San Bernardino Daily Sun, San Bernardino, California, Tuesday 27 February 1934, Volume 40, page 2.
  32. ↑ Associated Press, "Two Pennsylvania Train Wrecks Add to Storm Toll", The San Bernardino Daily Sun, San Bernardino, California, Tuesday 27 February 1934, Volume 40, page 2.
  33. ↑ Associated Press, "Two Pennsylvania Train Wrecks Add to Storm Toll", The San Bernardino Daily Sun, San Bernardino, California, Tuesday 27 February 1934, Volume 40, page 2.
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