An admirable record

While in operation, from April 1, 1926 to December 31, 1926, Florida’s first intra- and inter-state Air Mail and passenger air service, Florida Airways, had an excellent service and safety record. Its average efficiency of operation was 90% and there was not a single accident on the line over the nine month period it was in service.

It’s pre-operational history, though, was another matter.

Runaway “Miss Fort Meyers” causes havoc on takeoff

On its way to Florida from the factory in late December 1925, the airline’s new fleet of four Ford Stout 2-AT all-metal “Air Pullmans” met with misadventure. The incident occurred on the morning of December 31, 1925, when the four aircraft were preparing for takeoff from the airport in Nashville, TN. A large crowd had turned out to watch the planes depart. An Alabama newspaper tells the story of what happened next:

Reprinted from The Montgomery Advertiser, January 1, 1926

FLIGHT DELAYED BY DAMAGE TO PLANES

Arrival of Fleet in Montgomery Halted For Week by Accident at Nashville

NASHVILLE, TENN., Dec. 31.–(AP) -Rushing down a slight grade with its big Liberty motor wide open, “Miss Fort Myers,” No. 3 of the fleet of four Ford-Stout passenger airplanes which were to take off for Montgomery, Alabama, this morning en route to Florida, got out of control of its pilot Lieutenant Lee F. Sheenhair as he attempted to take off at Blackwood field about 10 o’clock and crashed into its two sister ships, “Miss Tampa” and “Miss Miami,” damaging them so severely that the flight to Florida will be postponed for at least a week while repairs are made.

Although the huge all-metal plane plowed into its sister ships with all the force of its 400-horsepower motor and its four thousand pounds of weight, no one was injured in the crash, more than a score of spectators leaping to safety out of the path of the onrushing craft. The plane’s wild leap tore off the end of “Miss Miami’s” left wing and ripped a gaping hole in the right wing of “Miss Tampa.” In addition, the plane which ran amuck tore great holes in both wings and splintered its propeller. “Miss St. Petersburg,” No. 4 of the fleet, which up to this time had been the hard luck ship, escaped unscratched, being out of line of “Miss Fort Myers’” destructive swoop.

That none of the crews of the plane or of the group of spectators which had gathered to watch the planes take off were hurt was considered remarkable by aviation officers at the field. Lieutenant Sheenhair, pilot of “Miss Fort Myers,” and Leroy Pelletier, former secretary of the Ford Motor company, his passenger, were not scratched.

The mishap occurred as the planes were preparing to take off for Montgomery and Tallahassee. Miss Tampa and Miss Miami had been placed on the line at the south of the hangars. Miss Fort Myers and Miss St. Petersburg were lined up facing them. After motors had been tuned up Lieutenant Sheenhair was given the signal to start and taxied his big plane toward the southeast corner the field, which slopes down toward the hangars. After turning his plane, Lieutenant Sheenhair attempted to head it past the other planes, but the plane coasted down the grade, going into a ground loop and when he attempted to turn it with the motor full on, the plane failed to respond and crashed into the two on the line.

The plane was stopped by the force of the impact before it reached the fourth Ford plane, and an army DH on the opposite line.

After inspecting the damaged planes, Major W. A. Robertson, vice president in charge of operations for the Florida Airways corporation, owners of the planes, said that parts would be ordered from the Ford-Stout factory as soon as the extent of the damage could be ascertained. Repairs would be made at Blackwood field and the planes would proceed as soon as possible to Florida. “The accident was a piece of hard luck, but it will not halt our plans for the Tampa-Miami air line,” Major Robertson said. “This accident was just one of the kind of ground mishaps that sometimes will happen despite the utmost care.” The planes were not insured Major Robertson said.

Lieutenant Sheenhair was at a loss to account for the manner in which the plane slipped out of control.

MAXWELL FIELD NOTIFIED.

Maxwell field officials were notified Thursday morning that Henry Ford’s “flying tin lizzies,” scheduled to arrive in the capitol city of Alabama shortly after noon, en route to Miami, Florida, to enter the commercial air service, had met with accident in taxing at Nashville, Tennessee, and the flight had been delayed indefinitely. While no official reception had been planned for the pilots in Montgomery, they were to have been greeted by a large number from the city, and army officials at the local aviation field, as much interest in the flight had been manifested.

The all-metal “tin geese” took off from Detroit, Michigan, Monday, and were brought to roost at Nashville, Wednesday. The fleet is composed of four all-metal “flivvers” and a Curtis Lark.

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