Presque Isle, Maine – September 13, 1931
Updated June 26, 2022.
At about 8;00 a.m. on the morning of September 13, 1931, Ralph A. Merritt, 22, of Presque Isle, arrived at the newly opened Presque Isle airport to give flying lessons to Raymond A. Stone, 27, of Fort Fairfield, Me. At about 9:30 a.m. the men took off in a two-seat Waco 10 bi-plane with dual controls to begin a practice flight. The plane was observed by people at the airport to make three perfect touch-and-go landings. While climbing away from the third take off, the aircraft was observed to dip its left wing. As it did so it fell to the ground from an altitude of approximately 100 feet crashing in a potato about one thousand feet from the airfield.
Witnesses immediately rushed to the scene. Merritt had been killed instantly, while Stone was transported to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Due to this accident, the airport dedication that was supposed to take place in the coming days was postponed.
Sources:
Lewiston Daily Sun, “Two Are Killed In Plane Crash At Presque Isle”, September 14, 1931
The Evening Star, (Washington, D. C.), “Crash Kills Two Flyers”, September 14, 1931
The Star Herald, (Presque Isle), “Local Air Navigation Claims First Victims”, September 17, 1931, pg. 1
The Star Herald, (Presque Isle), “Airport Dedication Deferred Till Later”, September 17, 1931, Pg. 1
