Salt Lake Tribune | 1919-05-10 | Page 9 | Spike Flyers are near Death in Nevada Accident

SPIKE FLYERS ARE NEAR DEATH IN NEVADA ACCIDENT Special to Tho Tribune. CARLIN, Nev., May 9. Lieutenant Curtis and his pilot, Lafotte, flying from Mather field. Sacramento, Cal., en route to Ogden to take part In the Gnlden Spike celebration, narrowly escaped death this afternoon. when the airplane in which thev were riding struck an embankment em-bankment and turned turtle. Both men were buried beneath the machine, which was so badly damaged that it was necessary neces-sary to abandon the trip. Tonierht Lieu tenant Curtis and Pilot Lafotte are suffering from exhaustion and nervous shock from the hardships encountered en-countered on their trip to Carlin. Curtis and his pilot left Reno at 8:20 o'clock this morning, stopping at Lovelocks Love-locks and Winnemucca for gas. They encountered heavy .head and Hide winds, causing considerable trouble in making scheduled time-. While passing over 1 FnUsade car. yon at an elevation of 1 100 1 fe,-t they encountered heavy winds, caus- inc them to go into two tail spins, but. j were able to right their machine when near the ground. The men were forced I to make a landing at Carlin on account j of the supply of gas giving out. The 1 fliers resumed treir trip, but owing to I Cie strong downward currents were un-i un-i able to raise the machine to clear a six-. six-. foot embankment and the airplane hit , the obstacle he:d on. Lieutenant Curtis has been pilot ir;g ! ph'.uos tor four yea rs and said tonight ; this was his first mishap.