Crashed On Purpose; Carried Away By The Crowd

This aircraft is an Alexander Eaglerock A-4, S/N 762 (ATC# 59). It was manufactured in February 1929 by the Alexander Aircraft Company, Colorado Springs, CO. It came from the factory with a 180 HP Hispano-Suiza “E” engine S/N 49775. It weighed 2,618 pounds as a three-place airplane.

On 2/7/29 it sold to National Park Scenic Airways, Inc., Billings, MT. It sold three more times to Wyoming owners through 1931. We find the airplane at Tucson on 12/17/1933 piloted solo by Leslie C. Finley on his way from Wichita, KS to Los Angeles, CA. He gave his home base as Honolulu, HI. He was a long way from home.

It sold another nine times between its visit to Tucson and 1937. It remained near its birthplace in the Colorado Springs area all that time, finally moving on 5/1/37 to the hangar of Rex Murphy of Pueblo, CO. He had a use for the airplane.

On the day of sale, 5/1/37, he crashed the airplane at Pueblo. In a letter of 4/7/38, Inspector S.L. Willits reports, “Ship crashed as a stunt at Pueblo Fair Grounds. Ship and engine carried away by spectators.” Registration cancelled 4/25/38.

UPLOADED: 07/28/05 REVISED: