Westerly Airport – June 19, 1965
Westerly, Rhode Island
On June 19, 1965, a small plane with two men aboard crashed while attempting an emergency landing at Westerly Airport. Both men were killed.
The dead were identified as (pilot) Robert White, 25, of Stratford, Ct., and Herman Stephens of Moosup, Ct..
Witnesses said the planes engine could be heard “sputtering” on approach. In May of 1966, the Civil Aeronautics Board released the finding of its investigation. “An inspection revealed low compression of the No. 3 cylinder with appreciable leakage of the No. 3 intake valve…From the overall evidence it was concluded that a power failure did occur.”
Source: Woonsocket Call, “Power Failure Blamed For RI Plane Crash”, May 9, 1966, Pg. 1