Page 30 - January 23

Register in Tucson, Arizona, Beery landed the airplane at the Tucson airfield March 14, 1929. He was carrying a full load of passengers from Los Angeles en route to El Paso, Texas.
In March 1930, the airplane was being flown by Maves when it crashed and was destroyed by impact and a post-crash fire in the vicinity of San Gabriel, California. Beery told reporters that Maves did not have permission to fly the ship, which was based at United Airport in Burbank. Beery had recently flown the Travel Air for five hours and knew of no mechanical problems with the airplane. Maves, his wife Cynthia and a pilot named Lynn Hayes were killed. According to local news reports dated March 25, 1930, witnesses told Department of Commerce officials that the monoplane “approached Valley Boulevard from the south” at a low altitude of about 300-600 feet before it began a turn to the left. Instead of rolling out of the bank the ship “fell off” and then “plunged, nose down,” to the ground.
The newspapers reported that Beery was “much affected” when he learned of the accident. He said he had employed Maves “at various periods” totaling about 18 months as a mechanic and “had flown many hours with him.” The accident, however, did not deter Beery from continuing to fly. He remained an active pilot until 1941 when America entered World War II. KA
Notes:
1. This story was related to the author by one of those young ladies who, 60 years after the event, still remembered the sight, feel and smell of big money as if it were yesterday.
2. After Travel Air was acquired by Curtiss-Wright in 1929, these designations were changed to Type 6B and Type A6A, respectively.
3. Although cramped for the average adult, the lavatory was functional and proved to be a popular option with customers.
4. The Type 6000B had a maximum gross weight of 4,230 pounds compared to 5,250 pounds for the Type A6000A.
5. According to internet sources, Maves had been a member of the popular “Thirteen Black Cats” aerial stunt team before accepting employment with Beery. He eventually took a job flying for Pickwick Airways but later resumed his employment by Beery and accompanied him to Wichita to accept the A6000A.
Ed Phillips, now retired and living in the South, has researched and written eight books on the unique and rich aviation history that belongs to Wichita, Kansas. His writings have focused on the evolution of the airplanes, companies and people that have made Wichita the “Air Capital of the World” for more than 80 years.
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28 • KING AIR MAGAZINE
JANUARY 2023