Flint – Detroit

On May 18, 1935 at 06:35 PM, Flint – Detroit experienced a crash involving Ford 4, operated by Knowles Flying Services, with the event recorded near Flint-Bishop Michigan.

The flight was categorized as charter/taxi (non scheduled revenue flight) and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

12 people were known to be on board, 3 fatalities were recorded, 9 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 25.0%.

Crew on board: 2, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 10, passenger fatalities: 2, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing to a height of some 75 feet, the right engine failed. Crew decided to return to Flint but during the last turn, the central engine failed as well. Aircraft stalled and crashed near the airport. Two passenger and the pilot Theodore E. Knowles were killed while all other occupants were injured. Theodore E. Knowles was the founder and owner of this local operator.

Aircraft reference details include registration NC7864, MSN 4-AT-049, year of manufacture 26.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 42.9935°, -83.7405°.