by Jesse W. Lankford for the Bureau of Air Commerce

“ On May 28, 1935, at approximately 10:26 p.m., at a point about 4 miles SW of Nilwood, Illinois, an airplane of United States registry piloted by a licensed airman, while being operated in scheduled flight carrying mail, express, and one non-pay passenger, accidentally collided with the ground, with resultant death to the pilot and passenger and the complete destruction of the aircraft and cargo. ”

“ From marks on the ground it appears that in this turn he allowed the right wing of the plane to contact the ground. The first mark clearly indicated a wing tip and the green navigation light was found imbedded in the ground at this point. After the first contact the plane evidently cartwheeled and came to rest with the fuselage upside down and with the tail pointing in a direction opposite to the approach. ”