2 Escape Injuries as Plane
Sinks on Monona
A seaplane
pilot and his passenger narrowly escaped injuries Sunday when the
plane, which had been used for carrying customers from the Four Lakes
aquatennial, over-turned and sank while landing on Lake Monona.
The pilot was James B. Hanson, Oak ct.,
Monona, who just shortly before the crash had taken his wife and small
son, James Jr., for a ride in the plane.
Didn't Raise Wheels
His passenger was Roger "Red"
Heyroth, who had been hired by Steve Stevenson, former flying
instructor here and owner of the plane, to help load and unload
passengers from the aquatennial.
Hanson had flown the plane to the Four Lakes
airport, Route 4, when the lake became rough Sunday. Flying back later
to the passenger-loading ramp, just off 600 block on Williamson st.,
Hanson forgot to raise the wheels of the plane before landing on the
water.
The wheels struck the water "like two
anchors". Police Sgt. John Durkin reported, and flopped the plane
"tail over nose".
Got Out Safely
Hanson and Heyroth were inside the plane when
it sank, but released themselves and gained safety without injury. The
plane was hoisted out of the water Sunday morning and taken to Truax
field.
Severson said the plane was a "complete
wreck" because of the water damage. It was a four-passenger,
single engine. all-metal SeaBee plane, valued at $6,400, Severson
said.
'Can Happen to Anyone'
"Hanson is an excellent pilot",
Severson said. "It was just one of those things that can happen
to anybody".
Hanson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred G. Hanson,
3102 Atwood ave. started flying before the war. After serving five and
a half years with the navy, he returned to Madison and has flown
planes as a business and avocation since.
[The Wisconsin State Journal; Madison, Tuesday,
July 6, 1948]
