The Flying Paperboy of the Guadalupes - Queen, NM - Plane Crash Sites on Waymarking.com

Frank A. Kendel, an avid pilot from nearby Carlsbad, frequently flew newspapers and supplies to hunters and ranchers in this area. On May 31, 1964, he had flown himself and Reverend Willis E. Plapp to Queen so the pastor could conduct a morning church service; about eighty Pecos Valley trail riders were in attendance. After the service, Kendel and the Reverend took off, but Kendel circled back around and attempted to land. The plane struck the ground about two hundred yards from the airstrip. Reverend Plapp was thrown from the wreckage and seriously injured, but Kendel perished when the aircraft exploded and burned. It is possible that Kendel had experienced a heart attack and was attempting to bring the plane back down when he became entirely incapacitated.

The memorial consists of a pylon and an aircraft propeller on a rock pedestal, and includes a plaque describing Kendel's contributions to this area.

Web Address for Related Web Sites: [Web Link] Date of Crash: 05/31/1964 Aircraft Model: Piper PA-12 Cub Military or Civilian: Civilian Tail Number: N2816M Cause of Crash: Most likely cause was that the pilot had a heart attack while airborne and attempted to land, but became entirely incapacitated.

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