Martinsville, VA Private Plane Crashes, July 1964

5 PERSONS DIE IN VIRGINIA PLANE CRASH.

Martinsville, Va. (AP) -- Five persons died today in the fiery crash of a twin-engine airplane that failed on a take-off attempt at the Martinsville Airport.
The crash killed the pilot and four passengers, including three officials of the Martinsville DuPont plant who were to fly to Wilmington, Del.
Killed were DR. W. R. LYCAN, 40, formerly of Evansville, Ind., and supervisor of the DuPont processing section; CARL C. LARSON, 35, senior supervisor of the processing section; JACK L. COMBS, 33, senior supervisor of the technical section; JOHN E. PACE, JR., 43, the pilot, Martinsville; and MRS. VIRGINIA PAARFUS, 40, Stuart, a passenger.
PACE was president of Blue Ridge Airways Inc. of Martinsville.
As the plane soared over the embankment it fell into a woods, clipped a large pine tree and fell to the ground. As it did the ship broke into flames.
PACE and MRS. PAARFUS were trapped in the plane. The other three were thrown across a small clearing. All were killed instantly except COMBS, who died two hours later.
DR. LYCAN was a graduate of Evansville College. He attended Indiana State College at Terre Haute, Ind., in the 1940s on a program for future Navy officers.
He is survived by his wife, the former ELAINE THOMPSON of Rt. 3, Terre Haute; a daughter and son; his mother, Mrs. Clara Hart, Evansville, and his father Charles Lycan, Evansville.
DR. LYCAN, a chemist, received his master's and doctor's degree at the University of Colorado.
Funeral services will be Thursday morning in Martinsville. Burial will be in Indiana.

Logansport Press Indiana 1964-07-08
__________________

Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!