C6

THEPOST-JOURNAL,Jamestown,NewYork Saturday,January14,2012

SATURDAY

C rash: Survivor finds strength to make heroic journey through woods in search of help
FromPageC1 Accordingtotheofficialcrash investigationreportissuedbythe CivilAeronauticsBoard(CAB), thepilotsdidnottakeonanyfuel inPittsburgh.Theinvestigators alsodeterminedthattheflight crewdidnotmakeanattemptto obtainaweatherbriefingfrom FlightAdvisoryServiceforthe routefromPittsburghtoBuffalo. However,whenoneofthepilots calledinavisualflightplanfor Buffalo,aweatherforecastervolunteeredinformationthatavisual flightplanwasnotpossible becauseofpoorweatherathigh elevationsonmountainousridges alongtheway. ACEPILOTNOTATTHEHELM At9:47pm,CaptainHarris liftedtheformermilitarytransport planeofftherunwayatthe AlleghenyCountyAirportnear Pittsburgh,andheadednorth. Moonsaidtheonlythingunusual abouttheflightwasthatthreelittlechildrenwereonboardand theywenttosleep. ThreeotherContinentalCharterscrewmemberswerealsoon boardtheplane.Veteranpilot ClarenceJosephWebber,38, knownasC.J.,andco-pilotGus Athas,25,bothofMiami,were scheduledtoflytheplanefrom BuffalotoMiami.Stewardess DeloresBeshears,21,ofMiami, wasalsoscheduledtoworkonthe returnflight. Moonsaidtheyoungcrew referredtoCapt.Webberasthe oldman,forhisexperienceand gentlemanlydemeanortowardthe others.After60yearsofreflectiononthemosttragiceventof herlonglife,Moonremainsconvincedtheplanewouldnothave crashedifWebberhadbeenin

Thefirstphotoofsurvivorsatthesceneshowsthemhearinginstructionsfromarescueleader,left. UPItelephoto ducedinBuffaloattheformer Curtissaircraftmanufacturing plantin1944.Theplanehad onlyrecentlybeenoutfittedfor flyingAmericanpassengersafter itwasreturnedtotheU.S.from headedblindlyintoasmallrange ofridges,mountainsandhillsin westernCattaraugusCountywith elevationsrangingfrom1,860 feetatHoxieHillto2,425feetat ShuttsMountain.Thecrash

Pretty soon we started to fall. The warning light came on. Then there was the crash and blood-curdling screams.

Colombia27daysearlier,on occurredonanunnamedpeakof commandandatthecontrols. Dec.5. BucktoothRidgeat2,380feet C.J.Webberhadbegunflying TheauthorsofthebookCur- elevationinthesmallfarmtown George Albert asearlyas1931nearhishomein tissC46Commandodescribe ofNapoli. survivor of crash of Flight 44-2 Madison,Wis.Whileearninghis theplaneasashortrange,large Napoliisinthesoutheastcorpilotslicense,heflewinair capacitycargoandtransportplane nerofCattaraugusCountyandis showsthatwerepopularinthe inthewesternfoothillsofthe 1930sandknownasbarnstorm - distinguishedin1943forthe Americanairliftovertherugged AlleghenyMountains.Formost ingevents.Atthestartof observers,theterrainofNapoli WWII,WebbermovedtoEngland mountainsbetweenIndiaand China.Knownasflyingthe wouldbeconsideredlow-rolling andflewfortheBritishAirTrans- hump,theC-46provedidealfor hills.However,someofthe acrossthevalleyatopBucktooth familyinJosephine,Pa.,forthe portAuxiliary,ferryingnewly high-altitudeflightscarrying peaksarenamedasmountains. Ridge,prayingforrescueand holidays.Forthereturntripthey builtmilitaryplanesfromfactoheavyloadstosmallairfieldsin Thecrashinvestigationreport wonderingiftheywouldeverget neverintendedtoflytoBuffalo. riestoairbasesthroughoutGreat China.Afterthewar,C-46swere indicatesthatContinentalChar- outalive. Theyhadticketsfortheflight Britain.Uponhisreturntothe tersflewthisroutewithoutconWhiletheShenefielsandother fromPittsburghtoMiami.Inthe U.S.in1941,WebberjoinedPan usedextensivelyinSouthAmerisideringittobemountainouster- Napolifarmfamiliesstokedtheir officialinvestigationtherewere AmericanAirFerries,andtrans- cabecauseofvaststretchesof jungleandmountains.Priorto rain. woodandcoalstovesformore conflictingreportsaboutwhether portedmilitaryplanesfrom modificationtoacommercialpasThesmallmountainsandlush warmthonthatDecembernight, theAlbertsandtheotherPittsAmericanfactoriestobasesin sengerplane,theC-46acquired valleysarewhatattractedthefirst PearlMoonremembersthatthe burghpassengerswereevertold SouthAmerica,Africaandthe byContinentalChartershada settlerstoNapoli.Cropswereeas- survivorsforbideachotherto aboutachangeintheflightschedMiddleEast.Afterthewar,he cruisingspeedof236mphanda ilycultivatedinthevalleysand sleepfearingthattheywouldnot ulethatwouldtakethemtoBuffacontinuedasapilotintheair timberwasharvestedfromthe wakeupandwouldfreezeto lobeforeMiami.Moonsaidthat transportbusinesswithcross-con- maximumpayloadof15,000 poundsor50passengers.The mountainsides. Membersofthe death. combiningpassengersfromthe tinentflightsthatearnedhimthe crashinvestigatorsdetermined StephenHoxiefamilywere ThemorningofMonday,Dec. twoflightsmadeitdifficulttoget irrefutablereputationasanexpert thatFlight44-2wasnotoverNapolisettlersinthe1830s,and 31,wasalsouneventfulatthe everyoneonboardtheplaneand pilot. loaded,nordidithavetoomany fromHoxieHill,thereisanunob- Shenefielfarmand,exceptforthe settledinsotheycouldtakeoff. WebberbeganflyingtheCurpassengersonboard. structedviewacrossthePigeon factthatitwasNewYearsEve, Shetoldaccidentinvestigators tissC-46twin-enginetransport ValleytoBucktoothRidgeand thefamilyfolloweditsdailyrou- thatsheinformedallthepassenandpassengerplanein1949.By LOW-FLYINGPLANE thecrashscene.MabelTennies tine.Atmid-afternoonDavid gersofthestopinBuffalobefore 1950,withhiswifeandthree Weatherconditionsonthe Hoxiewasbornonafarmalong Shenefielreceivedatelephone headingtoMiami. childrenathomeinMiami,WebnightofDec.29,1951,over BucktoothRidgein1888.Her callthataplanehadcrashedon Alberttoldreportersin1952 berbeganflyingforContinental northwesternPennsylvaniaand daughter,RosaMyrtleHoxie, themountainandthatheandthe thatheremembersinthefinal Charters,anon-scheduledflight WesternNewYorkdictatedan townsequipmentwereneededto minutesoftheflightbeingtoldto airlinesbasedinMiami.Webbers instrumentflightfromPittsburgh marriedDavidG.Shenefiel, whoseparentshadsettledona help. fastenhisseatbeltandhearing flightlog,providedbyhisdaughtoBuffalowasnecessaryforsafefarminNapoliin1920,abouta Thesurvivorsofthecrashhad anotherpassengersuggestthey ter,NancyWebberHarrison,indi- ty.Underinstrumentrules,the milefromthecrashscene.In setuptheirmakeshiftcampabout mightbelost.Prettysoonwe catedhehadlogged6,354hours typicalflightpathwouldhave 1951,DavidandRosaShenefiel 100yardsawayfromthewreck- startedtofall.Thewarninglight byJuly1951whenhewasonly beennorthwesttoLakeErieand livedontheirdairyfarmalong ageoftheaftsectionoftheplane. cameon.Thentherewasthecrash 37. HoxieHillRoad.Forextra Theyhadstruggledtocarrythe andblood-curdlingscreams, PearlMoondescribedWebber thenalongthelakeshoreto DunkirkandintoBuffalo. income,Davidalsoworkedasthe injuredpassengerstotheirsmall Albertsaidin1952. asanacepilot,and,when Instead,thevisualflightpath Napolihighwaysuperintendent. fire,beneathaparachutetheyhad Newspaperaccounts indicate askedifshethoughtthingswould chosenbythepilotsofFlight44- Thismeantthathedroveaplow stretchedoutforatent.Oneof thatGeorgeAlbertwas exhausthaveturnedoutdifferentlyifhe inthewinter,repairedroadculthem,ThomasPatterson,21,of edbythetimehereachedthe hadbeenatthecontrols,shesaid, 2tookthemdirectlynorthfrom vertsinthespring,andsprayedoil NewCastle,Pa.,wasbadly nearestroad,SawmillRun,after Absolutely,becausehewasthat Pittsburghoverthehighestelevaonthedustygravelroadsinthe injured.AphotographofPattertrampingthroughdeepsnow off kindofperson.Andheknewhow tioninPennsylvaniaandthrough thewesternfoothillsofNew summer. sonbeingpreparedtobecarried BucktoothRidgeinthewoods. togetthingsdone. OnDec.29,1951,theShene- downthemountain,hishead Hedecidedtowalkdownhillon Theextraco-pilotontheplane, YorkstatesAlleghenyMounfielswenttobedearlysothey woundwrappedwithashirtand theroadinsteadofuphillwhere Athas,wasonlyafewyearsinto tains. couldawakebeforedawntomilk restingonasuitcase,wouldbe hewouldhavefoundthenearest hisprofessionalcareer,andatthe GroundobserversatSarver, their19Holsteincowsandcom- distributedaroundtheworldby farmhouseownedbytheKenageof25,wastheyoungestpilot RimersburgandSheffield,Pa, theAssociatedPress. nethHerrickfamily.Albertsaid amongthefour. reportedhearingalow-flyingair- pleteotherchoresontheirsmall farm.Liketheirdistantneighbors itwaspainfulforhimtowalk Notmuchisknownaboutpilots planeinfoggyweather.InNew uphill.Afterwalkingfortwo HarrisandRutzebeckexceptfor Yorkstate,witnessesatSteam- inthesparselypopulatedcommuTHESEARCHFORHELP milesdownSawmillRunRoad, nity,theydidnthearanything whatisintheofficialaccident burgandOnovillereportedthe Onthemorningafterthecrash, fromtheplanecrashjustafew AlbertcametotheCharles and investigation.Harrishadbeen planewasflyingsolowthey milesacrossthevalleyfromtheir Lt.BischofandAlbertwalkedoff RubyBryantfarmhouseinthe employedbyContinentalCharters couldseethelightsinthecabin farm.Thenextday,Sunday,they throughthesnowinanattemptto forthreeyearsbuthadonly windows.Despitethelow-elevafindhelp.Afteraboutamile,they nearbytownofColdspring.Mrs. likelywouldhavebecomeaware Bryantwasoutsideatthetime, recentlyobtainedhisAirline tionflight,theplaneshouldhave ofamissingplanefromnews turnedback.Thedeep,wetsnow TransportPilotRatingfortheC- beenabletoclearthehillsand wastoocoldfortheirunprotected disposingofthefamilys Christreportsontheirradio.News 46inMarch1951.Hehadlogged smallmountainsalongadirect feetandBischofwasslightly mastree.Whenshefirstsaw reportstoldofsearchplanesfanjustover3,000hoursofflight. route.However,bythetimethe injured.TheyresignedthemAlbert,shethoughthehadbeen Rutzebeck,despitebeingolder planecrossedtheNewYorkstate ningoutacrossawideregion selvestospendinganothernight outcelebratingNew Years Eve thanHarrisandhavinglogged border,itwasalreadyapproach- includingpartsofPennsylvania, atopthemountain.Thesecond early. Ohio,WesternNewYork,lakes morethan6,300hoursofflight, ing11mileseastofitstruecourse ErieandOntario,andportionsof nightwasdescribedbyMoonas JohnBryantrecalledin2009 hadbegunworkingfortheairline forBuffaloandinadirectline Canada. themostpainful.Shewassevere- thathis motherbroughtAlbert inJuly1951. withthehigherelevationsofthe TheShenefielswouldgoto lycold,tiredandhungry,and intothefarmhousewhere Theplaneinvolvedinthe bedthenightofSunday,Dec.30, now,evenmoreafraidthatshe Bryant,hismotherandhis older Alleghenyfoothills. crashwasaCurtissC-46that, stillunawarethat14peoplesat woulddieonthemountain.It brotherslistenedtotheincrediThefourpilots,threestewironically,mayhavebeenprowasblackoutsideanditwasso blestoryoftheplanecrash.The ardesses,and33passengerswere huddledaroundasmallfire cold,shesaid.Theyargued olderBryantboys startedforthe aboutwhowoulddiefirstasthey sceneofthecrashrightaway ateorangesanddrankinstantcof- whileAlbertstayedbehindto fee,madefrommeltingsnow reportthecrashwiththe overthesmallfire. Bryantstelephone. Thenextmorningtheyhearda RodandStuart(Bryant)both trainwhistleinthedistance.It putonwintergearandheaded immediatelyforthecrashsiteon renewedtheirspiritandthey foot,travelingoverlandthrough devisedaplantogoforhelp. thewoods.Theywereamongthe Moonsaidthatshetookclothing firsttogetthereandhelpedcarry fromsuitcasesinthewreckage andwrappedGeorgeAlbertsfeet outsurvivors.Iwas15andmy motherwouldntletmego.I sohecouldcontinuewalking believemyfatherwasatwork, throughthedeepsnow.Itslikely JohnBryantsaid. thatotherpassengers,suchas TheBryantshadntevenheard MaryBattista,28,ofWeirton, thenewsaboutamissingplane. W.Va.,helped.MaryBattista TheirradiowasnotworkingdurHainestoldthePittsburghPostingtheselastfewweeksofthe Gazettein1994thatherfeetwere year.AfterhearingAlbertsstory frostbittendespitewearingslipofthecrashandsurvivorsshiverper-socksthatshehadfoundin inginthecoldonthesmall someonesluggage. mountain,togethertheyplaceda Lt.Bischofwastooweaktogo telephonecalltotheCattaraugus withAlbertonthissecondattempt CountySheriffsDepartment. togethelpso,withhisfeetwrap- Albertrelayedthedetailsofthe pings,Alberttrampedoffthrough tragiceventsoverthetelephone. thesnowinthedirectionofthe ItwasntlongbeforeSawmill trainwhistle. Run,andespeciallyourhouse, GeorgeAlbertownedarestau- wasinchaos,withrescuepersonrantinMiamiwithhismother, nel,newsmen,thrillseekersand Stand-by pilot C.J. Webber was one of two auxiliary pilots who charged the cockpit trying to pre- ElizabethAlbert,46.According traffic.Allthereporterswanted vent the crash of Flight 44-2. Pearl Moon believes that if Webber had been flying the plane on the toaweblogbyJacklynHoardof touseourtelephone,Bryant nightofDec.29,thecrashwouldnothaveoccurred. Salamanca,theAlbertsflewfrom said. Webberfamilyphoto MiamitoPittsburgh,tovisittheir See CRASH,PageC7