Bryan, TX Private Plane Crash, Jan 1957

PLANE CRASH AT BRYAN FATAL TO SIX PERSONS.

Bryan -- (UP) -- Dense fog and a failing engine were blamed today for the crash burning of a twin-engined Standard Oil of Ohio plane that claimed the lives of all six occupants.
Airport authorities said the pilot of the stricken Beechcraft had radioed at 7:55 p.m. EST that his plane was losing oil pressure, that one engine had failed and that he was going to attempt an insturment landing in the heavy fog and drizzle.
This report was received while the plane was over Easterwood Airport at College Station, six miles south of Bryan, but the plane crashed 33 minutes later three and a half miles north of Bryan Air Force Base, which is 12 miles west of this central Texas town.
The dead, five of whom were employes of the company, were identified as:
ROBERT C. POMEROY of Oklahoma City, about 45, an assistant chief pilot for Sohio.
JIM THORNTON of Norman, Okla., 25 year old editor of the company magazine published in Oklahoma City.
MR. and MRS. DONALD CRARY of Oklahoma City.
MR. and MRS. CLYDE THOMPSON of Houston.
JOHN PERRONE, who lives about three-quarters of a mile from the scene, said the crash "sounded like thunder" and shook his house.
JOE LEPAGIA, a farm hand who was one of the first persons to arrive at the crash, said it appeared one of the victims appeared to have survived the first impact and had tried unsuccessfully to crawl away from the heat of the fire.
Ambulance driver RAYMOND JONES said that when he got to the scene the plane was still burning. He said all of the bodies but that of one of the women were scattered in an area close to the wreckage. She was thrown about 25 yards away.
CRARY, 39, was manager of the company's exploration staff. THOMPSON, 32, was a geological trainee in the Houston office and his 26 year old wife was a secretary in that office. MRS. CRARY was 33.
A Sohio spokesman said the plane was en route from Houston to Oklahoma City and that the THOMPSONS had hitched a ride.

The Mexia Daily News Texas 1957-01-26
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!