The lives of two brothers, Jerry Shannon, 25, and Eldon Shannon, 24, sons of Mr. Mrs. Leon Shannon, were snuffed out suddenly Sunday morning, October 25, when the airplane they were flying crashed into a lot west of the Albert Davis farm home 2½ miles east of Hiawatha on US-36 highway. The time of the accident was approximately 8:30 a.m.
Jerry Shannon, who had held a pilot's license for about one year, was piloting the plane and his brother, Eldon, was a passenger. According to Robert "Bob" Davis, son of Mr. Mrs. Albert Davis, who now lives on the Davis farm, he heard the plane overhead and went out into the yard. He recognized the plane as the one owned by the Shannon brothers and Bob Sunderman.
Davis reported that the plane was traveling west when he first saw it and, as he watched, the pilot circled around at low altitude and speed. Mr. Davis is of the opinion that they lost air speed making it impossible for them to pull the plane up and gain altitude. The right wing dipped and the plane hit the ground, immediately exloding and bursting into flames. Robert ran to the scene but was unable to offer any assistance because of the fire. He said the plane, a late 1945 Aeronica Champ, had recently been overhauled, refinished and was in good condition.
Davis reported the accident at once, and the rural fireman, police and the Meek ambulance rushed to the scene. The bodies were burned beyond recognition. They were taken to the Meek mortuary.
(Continued onto Jerry Shannons page)
Jerry Shannon, who had held a pilot's license for about one year, was piloting the plane and his brother, Eldon, was a passenger. According to Robert "Bob" Davis, son of Mr. Mrs. Albert Davis, who now lives on the Davis farm, he heard the plane overhead and went out into the yard. He recognized the plane as the one owned by the Shannon brothers and Bob Sunderman.
Davis reported that the plane was traveling west when he first saw it and, as he watched, the pilot circled around at low altitude and speed. Mr. Davis is of the opinion that they lost air speed making it impossible for them to pull the plane up and gain altitude. The right wing dipped and the plane hit the ground, immediately exloding and bursting into flames. Robert ran to the scene but was unable to offer any assistance because of the fire. He said the plane, a late 1945 Aeronica Champ, had recently been overhauled, refinished and was in good condition.
Davis reported the accident at once, and the rural fireman, police and the Meek ambulance rushed to the scene. The bodies were burned beyond recognition. They were taken to the Meek mortuary.
(Continued onto Jerry Shannons page)
The lives of two brothers, Jerry Shannon, 25, and Eldon Shannon, 24, sons of Mr. Mrs. Leon Shannon, were snuffed out suddenly Sunday morning, October 25, when the airplane they were flying crashed into a lot west of the Albert Davis farm home 2½ miles east of Hiawatha on US-36 highway. The time of the accident was approximately 8:30 a.m.
Jerry Shannon, who had held a pilot's license for about one year, was piloting the plane and his brother, Eldon, was a passenger. According to Robert "Bob" Davis, son of Mr. Mrs. Albert Davis, who now lives on the Davis farm, he heard the plane overhead and went out into the yard. He recognized the plane as the one owned by the Shannon brothers and Bob Sunderman.
Davis reported that the plane was traveling west when he first saw it and, as he watched, the pilot circled around at low altitude and speed. Mr. Davis is of the opinion that they lost air speed making it impossible for them to pull the plane up and gain altitude. The right wing dipped and the plane hit the ground, immediately exloding and bursting into flames. Robert ran to the scene but was unable to offer any assistance because of the fire. He said the plane, a late 1945 Aeronica Champ, had recently been overhauled, refinished and was in good condition.
Davis reported the accident at once, and the rural fireman, police and the Meek ambulance rushed to the scene. The bodies were burned beyond recognition. They were taken to the Meek mortuary.
(Continued onto Jerry Shannons page)
Jerry Shannon, who had held a pilot's license for about one year, was piloting the plane and his brother, Eldon, was a passenger. According to Robert "Bob" Davis, son of Mr. Mrs. Albert Davis, who now lives on the Davis farm, he heard the plane overhead and went out into the yard. He recognized the plane as the one owned by the Shannon brothers and Bob Sunderman.
Davis reported that the plane was traveling west when he first saw it and, as he watched, the pilot circled around at low altitude and speed. Mr. Davis is of the opinion that they lost air speed making it impossible for them to pull the plane up and gain altitude. The right wing dipped and the plane hit the ground, immediately exloding and bursting into flames. Robert ran to the scene but was unable to offer any assistance because of the fire. He said the plane, a late 1945 Aeronica Champ, had recently been overhauled, refinished and was in good condition.
Davis reported the accident at once, and the rural fireman, police and the Meek ambulance rushed to the scene. The bodies were burned beyond recognition. They were taken to the Meek mortuary.
(Continued onto Jerry Shannons page)
