From the Baltimore American, Sunday, June 28, 1953:

[Photo caption: Nothing but this twisted, crumpled skeleton of metal remained Saturday of a small airplane which crashed and exploded on a farm on Back River Neck Road, killing one man and injuring another critically.]

      One man was burned to death and another was burned critically in a plane that crashed and exploded Saturday night near a party enjoying a crab feast on the Albert Vesper farm on Back River Neck Road, in Baltimore County.

      The dead man was Earl Reinhalter, thirty-two, of Helena Avenue, Middleboro, a flight test engineer for the Glenn L. Martin Company. He was married and the father of one child.

      The survivor of the accident is William Bowen, thirty-four, of Mulberry Lane, Middleboro, the owner and pilot of the plane. Bowen is in City Hospital.

      Witnesses said the plane’s gas tank exploded as it struck, flipping the craft on its back. Bowen was thrown free as the plane turned over but Reinhalter was pinned under the burning wreckage.

      The two men were on a test flight. Bowen, a ground test pilot for the Martin Company, bought the ship, a Fairchild “22” at Punxsutawney, Pa., Saturday for $375 and he and Reinhalter flew it back to Baltimore.

      They took off for the test flight from Eastern Airport on Back River Neck Road. Charles Elko, the airport manager, said the ship appeared to lose altitude as it was making a turn at about 300 feet.

      Others said its engine was sputtering as though from carburetor trouble. It is believed that Bowen tried to make the field in which he crashed. At a low altitude, however, the plane suddenly nosedived.

      Albert Vesper, entertaining about fifteen friends at a crab feast under the trees near his house, said none of the party noticed the plane until it struck about 300 feet away.

      Then Bowen came walking toward the party, burned and dazed. Essex police, firemen and ambulances were called and, meanwhile, two nurses among the guests at the crab party gave Bowen first aid.

      Essex firemen said they were delayed a few minutes in getting to the scene by mistaken directions. When the fire in the plane wreckage had burned out - in about five minutes - Reinhalter’s body was recovered.

      Bowen had planned to license the plane next week.