Eugene M. Hansen 1934-1958

HANSEN, BROWN, FRANCIS, THOMAS

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 11/2/2011 at 23:22:51

Killed in Crash of Plane
An Estherville man and his daughter were killed yesterday when the light airplane in which they were riding crashed and burned near Britt. Dead are Eugene Hansen, 24, and his daughter, Becky.

The pilot of the plane, Frank Francis, 53, of Britt also was killed in the crash. He was the step-grandfather of Mr. Hansen. The bodies of all three were burned beyond recognition when engine trouble apparently developed and the craft plunged to earth in a puff of smoke, according to Hancock County Coroner, Kenneth Boughton.

Richard Barker, 15, son of the airport operator at Britt told authorities that he heard the plane engine sputtering and it appeared that Francis had attempted to head the plane for the airport when it suddenly crashed.

Shortly before the tragic flight Francis had taken several other relatives for a ride in the plane. Francis, a native of --- had been flying for about 15 years.

Hansen was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hansen, 1120 2nd Ave. N., Estherville. He was employed as an automobile body repairman at Montgomery Buick Chevrolet for the past four and one-half years. He was graduated from Estherville High School in 1953.

Mr. Hansen was married to the former Ruth Brown at Estherville on Nov. 22, 1953. He was a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church and his daughter was baptized in that church.

Survivors in addition to his wife and parents include a son, Terry, 2 ½ years old; a brother, Harvey living at home; five sisters, Mrs. William (Mary) Thomas of Lakefield, Minn., Sandra, Betty, Thelma and Grace, all four living at home and his grandmother, Mrs. Frank Francis, wife of the pilot killed in the crash.

Funeral services for both Mr. Hansen and his daughter will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Redeemer Lutheran Church, the Rev. Robert Beckstrand officiating. Burial will be in East Side Cemetery. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, November 3, 1958)

Plane Crash Near Britt Kills Three Iowans (photo caption)
Only the skeleton remains of a light plane which crashed and burned Sunday afternoon near the airstrip on the George Baker farm south of Britt. Engine failure was blamed. Killed were Frank Francis, 53, Britt; Eugene Hansen, 24, Estherville, Francis’ step-son, and Hansen’s daughter, Becky, 4. (Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, IA, November 3, 1958)

Three Iowans Killed in Plane Crash Near Britt
Britt – A light plane plunged into an alfalfa field near Britt Sunday afternoon, killing a Britt paint contractor, his step-grandson and a 4-year-old great-granddaughter.

Dead are Frank Francis, 53, of Britt, the pilot, Eugene Hansen, 24, of Estherville, and Hansen’s daughter, Becky.

The bodies were burned beyond recognition, Hancock County Coroner Kenneth Boughton said.

Boughton said the plane, a two-seater Piper Cub, had been circling the Britt airport located on the George Barker farm when engine trouble apparently developed and the craft plunged to earth in a puff of smoke.

Richard Barker, 15, son of the airport operator, said he heard the plane’s engine sputtering and it appeared that Francis had attempted to head the plane for the airport when it suddenly crashed.

Shortly before the tragic flight, Francis had taken several other relatives for a ride in the plane, Boughton said.

Francis, a native of Belmond, had been flying for about 15 years.

Hansen was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hansen of Estherville. (Carroll Daily Times Herald, Carroll, IA, November 3, 1958)

Three Iowans Killed In Plane Crash Sunday
Britt, Iowa, (UPI) – Three persons, including a four-year-old girl, were killed and their bodies burned beyond recognition Sunday afternoon when a light plane crashed and burned after takeoff from the Britt airport.

The victims were identified as Frank Francis, 53, Britt, the owner and pilot of the 46 Piper J-3 single-engine craft; his son-in-law, Eugene Hansen, 24, Estherville; and Hansen’s four-year-old daughter, Becky.

The accident gave a tragic note to a family gathering at the Francis home. He had been giving rides in the plane to various family members all afternoon.

Authorities were not certain what cause the crash. The Rev. Justin Kane, pastor of St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church here, was in a nearby cemetery when the accident occurred. He told authorities the plane sputtered after takeoff, tried to head back toward the landing strip, plunged to earth in an alfalfa field and burst into flames.

One of Francis’ two sons, Duane, drove the first volunteer fire department trucks from Britt to arrive on the scene. He gasped, “My God, that’s my father,” when he saw the burning wreckage. (Ames Daily Tribune, Ames, IA, November 3, 1958)