FOR IMMEDIATE USE    April 20, 1936

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

BUREAU OF AIR COMMERCE

Washington

STATEMENT OF PROBABLE CAUSE CONCERNING AN ACCIDENT WHICH OCCURRED TO A COMMERCIALLY OWNED AIRPLANE ON NOVEMBER 27, 1935 AT ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA

To the Secretary of Commerce

On November 27, 1935 at about 4:30 p.m. at St. Petersburg, Florida, an airplane owned by the Taylor Aircraft Company crashed with resultant severe injuries to the pilot and passenger and the almost complete destruction of the aircraft.

The airplane, a Taylor Cub, model E-2, bore Department of Commerce license number NC-l4733. The pilot, Joseph T. Finney, held a Department of Commerce student license. The passenger was Howard J. Blish.

A number of flights were made, with and without passengers, by Finney before Blish entered the airplane. On this flight it was noticed that the course of flight was erratic. In making the landing approach to the field, the last turn was started with the airplane in an almost stalled position. The airplane fell off into a spin striking the ground after about half a turn. There was no evidence of engine or structural failure.

It is the opinion of the Bureau of Air Commerce that the probable cause of this accident was failure of the pilot to maintain proper control of the aircraft.

Respectfully submitted,

Eugene L. Vidal

Director of Air Commerce