Want it short and sweet? This is it.

This aircraft is a Ryan B-1 Brougham S/N 55 (ATC 25). It shares lineage with the “Spirit of St. Louis”, and was built during the same year. The B.F. Mahoney Aircraft Co., San Diego, CA manufactured it on 12/16/27. It was equipped with a 220 HP Wright J-5C engine, S/N 8113. It weighed 3,300 pounds. It was purchased by J.T. Hurst, 363 South Olive St., Los Angeles, CA, in anticipation of the organization of Mutual Aircraft Corp.

On 2/3/28 Hurst sold it to Mutual Aircraft Corp. It landed at Tucson on 4/16/28 and 4/30/28, flown by Jack Laass. Mr. Laass flew from Los Angeles to Ranger, TX and back, carrying two passengers on the return trip. The airplane had another four months to fly.

Four months after its landing at Tucson, and nine months after its manufacture, it suffered an accident in Bakersfield, CA on 8/11/28. During aerobatic maneuvers, the airplane, “Failed to recover from spin due to wing failure.” The airplane, “Burned entirely on striking the ground.” Pilot D.A. DiFiore (transport License #839) of San Leandro, CA was killed.