-5-
ing in the tanks after the accident. This tine agrees with the testimony of witnesses.
the amount of fuel found in the tanks of the wrecked airplane was calculated to be sufficient to have kept the engines running under normal conditions for an additional 27 minutes. By actual test, under the supervision of the Department of Commerce, this amount of fuel ran engines of the same type and service in an identical airplane for a period of 22 minutes with the carburetor set for maximum fuel consumption. These facts and computations indicate that the pilot was faced with the necessity of locating the Kirksville field and effecting a landing there within a matter of minutes. His realization of this emergency, as indicated by the precautions taken just before the accident, probably accounts for his dying declaration that he was "out of gas".
The airmanship of Pilots Bolton and Greeson, which overcame all save the last obstacle, and Pilot Bolton's efforts for the welfare of his passengers after the accident are to be commended.
It is the opinion of the Accident board that the probable direct cause of this accident was an unintentional collision with the ground while the airplane was being maneuvered at a very low altitude in fog and darkness.
The probable contributory causes of this accident were:
