NEWSPAPER & ARCHIVE
Des Moines, Ia., July 19. - (AP) - ROSS ARNOLD, pilot of the endurance monopane, "Greater Des Moines," was killed late yesterday when the plane crashed nine miles southeast of here. The crash followed an attempt at a test refueling preparatory to starting an endurance flight today. CHARLIE GATSCHET, co-pilot, was thrown from the plane but landed safely with a parachute. The plane was flying directly below its refueling ship, "The Miss Sioux City," piloted by ARNOLD'S brother, AMON, and JIMMY BARWICK. It suddenly went into a dive, completely out of control. GATSCHET and ARNOLD were both in the rear cockpit, which is equipped with dual controls. GATSCHET said he attempted in vain to pull the nose of the ship up. Then he was tossed from his seat into the air. He said he did not know what became of ARNOLD.
One report said that ARNOLD, too, was thrown from the ship but other witnesses declared he attempted to right it. The position of the body, a few feet from the wrecked craft, bore out the latter version that he probably was unable to jump, or thought he could regain control. The plane dived from a height of 3000 feet, plunged into a group of trees, and dropped into a wooded ravine.
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