Crop-Dusting Accident

PILOT HURT IN CRASH OF DUSTER

Greenwood Commonwealth, September 14, 1971. Pp. 1-2.

Vaiden, Miss. A 31-year-old crop duster pilot was reported in serious condition in a Jackson hospital today after suffering burns from a fire in his plane near here Monday.

Robert McCurdy of Grenada, formerly of Greenwood, jumped from his plane before it crashed into the ground about four miles west of here near Herbert Johnson’s grocery store on Highway 430.

Mrs. McCurdy said today her husband was showing some improvement in Veterans Administration Hospital. She said doctors found some burns were not as bad as had first been thought.

Wilson M. Caddess, city water supervisor, said he went to the wooded area and found the plane burning.

He said McCurdy climbed from a ditch near the road and that McCurdy told him he had jumped from the plane several feet up before it crashed.

The cause of the fire was not immediately determined.

SPRAYER PILOT IS INJURED IN CRASH

The Conservative, September 16, 1971. P. 3, Col. 4.

Robert McCurdy, who performed aerial crop-spraying work in this county, was burned and suffered other injuries Monday afternoon in an airplane accident near Vaiden.

It was reported that he jumped from his plane when it was about 35 feet from the ground. A witness said the burning plane crashed west of Vaiden about noon.

Mr. McCurdy was brought to Tyler Holmes hospital here, but was later transferred to Jackson, where he was reported in fair condition.

CROP DUSTER PILOT BURNED

Grenada Daily-Sentinel, September 14, 1971. P. 1.

Robert McCurdy, reportedly of Grenada, a crop duster pilot, was severely burned Monday when he jumped from his disabled plane shortly before it plunged to the earth near Vaiden.

McCurdy was taken to a Winona hospital after the accident and later was transferred to University Hospital in Jackson. He has been transferred again to the V.A. Hospital in Jackson.

The cause of the crash was not immediately known.

CROP DUSTER BADLY HURT

Clarion-Ledger, September 14, 1971. P. 2. Col. 6.

VAIDEN (AP) – A crop duster pilot was severely burned Monday after reportedly jumping from his disabled aircraft shortly before it plunged to earth near Vaiden.

Listed in fair condition at the University Hospital in Jackson was Robert McCurdy, identified as the pilot of the small plane. McCurdy, whose hometown was not immediately released, was taken to Winona Hospital following the accident and later transferred to Jackson.

Wilson M. Caddess, city water supervisor, said he saw the plane falling to earth in flames around 11:45 a.m. about five miles west of Vaiden.

Caddess said he drove to the wooded area and found the burning plane. He called for assistance, Caddess said, and as he was turning his car around at the crash site, McCurdy climbed from a ditch near the road.

The pilot was able to talk, the witness said, and told him he had jumped from the plane at 30 to 35 feet in the air.

The cause of the crash was not immediately known.