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Submitted: 8/28/11 • Approved: 7/27/23 • Last Updated: 7/30/23 • R580809-G0-S3
September 7, 1938 - September 26, 1970
*Obituary
Northwest Arkansas Times
Monday, September 28, 1970
City Plane Crash Kills Four Family Members
A single engine airplane piloted by a Kansas City, Mo., man carried the pilot, his son and two grandchildren to flaming death late Saturday when it stalled on takeoff from Drake Field and spun into a clump of trees just northwest of the airport.
The victims were identified as Raymond J. Hurdelbrink, 56, of Kansas City; his son, Raymond H. Hurdelbrink, 32, of Route 7 (Buckner), Fayetteville; and the younger man's son and daughter, Raymond L. Hurdelbrink, 10, and Rhonda Leigh Hurdelbrink, 9.
The elder Hurdelbrink had been a pilot for 39 years, his family said, but had only recently purchased the Beechcraft Bonanza involved in the crash.
The accident occurred about 6:45 p.m. after most of the estimated 70 aircraft at the field for the Arkansas-Tulsa game had left, and after a temporary control tower operated during the ballgame had been closed.
Authorities said the elder Hurdelbrink and his wife flew into Fayetteville Saturday to visit their son and daughter-in-law. Hurdelbrink was taking his son and grandchildren for a short local ride when the plane crashed.
RADIO NOT IN USE
The Federal Aviation Administration said the pilot did not file a flight plan—which is not required by regulations—and was not in radio contact with the Flight Service Station at Drake before the accident.
The cause of the crash had not been determined today, but was under investigation by federal aviation authorities.
A witness, C. J. Drake of Fort Smith, told Fayetteville police the plane's engine backfired and emitted puffs of smoke shortly after it left the runway. Seconds later the aircraft entered a left turn, stalled and crashed.
Fire trucks, ambulances and police cars drove several hundred feet down the Frisco Railroad tracks to reach the scene of the crash. Firemen were unable to remove the bodies until they extinguished the flames cooled the wreckage.
The elder Hurdelbrink was born June 7, 1914 at Wasica, Minn., the son of Remie and Melinda Hurdelbrink. He was a Methodist, a tool and die maker and a member of the Moose Lodge and the Isaak waiton League.
Survivors are the widow, Mrs. Margarett Hurdelbrink of the home; another son, Robert Joseph of Richmond, Va.; one sister, Mrs. Lucille Schwengel of Santa Ana, Calif.; one half-sister, Miss Bernice Schultz of Fullerton, Calif. and his step-father, A. W. Schultz, of Fullerton.
Raymond Herman Hurdelbrink was horn Sept. 7, 1937 at Des Moines, Iowa. He was manager of the Red Bird Service Station here and a Methodist.
Survivors in addition to his mother and brother are the widow, Mrs. Linda Hurdelbrink and another daughter, Ramona Lynn, both of the home.
Raymond Lee was born Jan. 15, 1960 at Des Moines and Rhonda Leigh was born July 13, 1961 at Des Moines. Bath were students at Jefferson School.
They are also survived by their maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Lemuel Turner of Siloam Springs.
Joint funeral services will be held at 3:30 p.m, Tuesday at Nelson's Funeral Chapel with burial in Buckner Cemetery.
Contributed on 8/28/11 by wfields55
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Record #: 580809