Bridgewater, Massachusetts – August 1, 1929
On August 1, 1929, a 27-year-old student pilot took off from the East Boston Airport in a Waco aircraft bound for Marston’s Mills on Cape Cod. The student had recently purchased the airplane with the intention of starting a passenger service in Ontario, Canada. While passing over the Bridgewater area the pilot was forced to land in a field on the Bridgewater State Farm and clear water from the gas lines. After doing so, he noted that the field had been cultivated and was not sufficiently smooth enough for a safe take off, but he opted to do so anyway because he didn’t have a pilot’s license and the plane was unregistered.
As he was taking off, he didn’t gain enough airspeed or altitude to clear a grove of trees, and crashed into them. The plane was completely wrecked, but the pilot only received minor injuries. He was brought to the farm’s hospital for treatment.
Two state troopers responded to investigate the accident. When it was learned that the plane wasn’t registered, and the pilot didn’t have a license, he was placed under arrest and given a summons to appear in Brockton District Court. He then took a train back to Boston.
The results of the charges is unknown.
Source:
Woonsocket Call, “Flier Hits Tree And Is Arrested; Had No License”, August 1, 1929
