Aviation Accident Report: 1935 Varney Air Transport crash

by Jesse W. Lankford

FOR IMMEDIATE USE

 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
BUREAU OF AIR COMMERCE
Washington

 

REPORT OF THE ACCIDENT BOARD
BUREAU OF AIR COMMERCE

 

Statement of probable cause concerning an accident which
occurred to a plane of Varney Air Transport, Incorporated,
on May 1, 1935 at Rattlesnake Butte, Colorado

 

To the Director of Air Commerce:

 

On May 1, 1935 at about 10:45 a.m. at Rattlesnake Butte, Colorado, an airplane of United States registry, piloted by a licensed airman, while being operated in scheduled flight carrying United States mail, accidentally collided with the ground with resultant death to the pilot and the complete destruction of the aircraft.

The airplane, a Lockheed Vega, bore Department of Commerce license number NC-891E and was being operated between Pueblo, Colorado and El Paso, Texas by Varney Air Transport, Incorporated. The pilot, John J. Mentijo, held a Department of Commerce transport pilot's license. No passengers were carried.

Pilot Mentijo, carrying mail only, departed from Pueblo on schedule and, so far as was known, proceeded on his normal course. Next known, a class of school children and their teacher at Rattlesnake Butte saw the plane approaching the school-house from the Northwest at an altitude of 150 to 200 feet. After circling the school-house and losing altitude to about 50 feet above the ground, the pilot increased the speed of the engine and flew to a point about one and one-half mile North of the school and while still losing altitude, attempted a turn which should allow him to pass in front of the school again. Near the completion of this turn and while in a steep bank, the right wing touched the ground, throwing the plane out of control, killing the pilot and completely destroying the aircraft.

Nothing was found to indicate that either plane or engine were not functioning normally. A letter found in the wreckage, evidently written by the pilot, requested the school children of Rattlesnake Butte to write him and let him know how close to the door of the school he had dropped the letter.

It is the opinion of the Accident Board that the probable cause of this accident was an accidental collision with the ground while doing low flying in violation of the Air Commerce Regulations.

 

ACCIDENT BOARD

 

Jesse W. Lankford,
Secretary