Registration Number NC8446
In An Adjoining Orchard
This aircraft is a Buhl CA-6 Air Sedan S/N 52 (ATC #128)
built October 1, 1929 by Buhl Aircraft Company, Marysville, MI. It
had a 300 HP Wright J-6 R-975 engine, S/N A-10726. It weighed
4,200 pounds and left the factory as a six-place airplane.
It was sold on October 5, 1929 to Metropolitan Development Company
Syndicate of Van Nuys, CA.
Metropolitan bought it less engine, and with an “NX”
registration number requested by the factory. It was equipped
with a special motor mount adaptable to the “Apache”
motor. Metropolitan never applied for a registration, there
was no bill of sale, and no answers from them to inquiries.
It was sold on October 24, 1929 to Pacific Finance Corp. of Los Angeles,
CA, surrendered for non-payment of purchase contract (Great
Depression problems?). As of March 14, 1931, the airplane had never
been assembled with an engine or flown. It sold three more
times in quick succession, receiving its J-6 engine as of
August 22, 1931.
According to a site visitor, during ca. 1932-33, NC8446 in the movies. "The Perils of Pauline" (1933) with Evalyn Knapp (a twelve part serial) featured the airplane in chase scenes with sister Register airplane, the Fairchild NC2K.
As of April 18, 1934, with 388:00 total flight hours, it was owned
by S.J. Coughran of Buena Park, CA. We find NC8446 landing
at Tucson on September 29,1934 piloted by Mr. Coughran carrying five
unidentified passengers for, as recorded in the remarks section
of the Register, "Pleasure sightseeing." They were
westbound from El Paso, TX to Fullerton, CA.
Mr. Coughran sold the airplane with 512:45 flight hours,
to Stephen Joseph Stussy of Yakima, WA on June 27, 1936. Stussy
had a minor accident with the airplane on 9/13/36 at Yakima.
The lower right wing was repaired as of September 26, 1936.
On September 17, 1939 the airplane took five paid passengers on a local
flight at Yakima. In the climb at 250’ the engine stopped.
Pilot Stussy (commercial license #29744) attempted a right
turn, the plane stalled and fell into an incipient spin. It
struck the ground in an adjoining orchard and burned immediately
after impact. Two passengers were thrown clear and endured
serious injuries. Pilot Stussy and three other passengers
suffered fatal injuries. Registration cancelled as of 9/17/39.
UPLOADED: 08/05/05 REVISED: 05/13/12
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