THE BELLEVILLE TELESCOPE
11A
THURSDAY, JUNE 15, 2017
Plane crash/Survivors recount final moments before impact
Continued from 1A
ing session before they
started their summer-long
jobs for the United States
Forest Service. Only two
of the 12 people on board
the DC-3 World War II
plane survived the crash.
Dietz, who went to
high school and college
in Manhattan, had hoped
to become a forest ranger
one day, he said, so he
and his wife, Julie, moved
to Idaho to work for the
United States Forest
Service. They were both
scheduled to fly into the
ranger station together
that Monday morning
for orientation, but a
last minute assignment
change for Julie Dietz
pulled her from the flight.
It was a decision that
saved her life; neither of
the people who sat next
to Dietz on the plane
survived.
Many of the people
on the plane were teens
and 20-somethings who
planned to work on the
trails of the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness Area, a
nearly million-acre wilderness area. The 10 passengers sat on a bench
along one side of the
plane while their personal
belongings and other
cargo were on the other
side of the plane. Sitting
on one side of Dietz was
59-year-old Robert Taylor,
who was going to retire
at the end of the year.
On the other side sat a
25-year-old woman and
her German Shepherd.
She was going to work on
the trails, Dietz said.
The plane took off at
9:28 a.m., taking the
scenic route to the ranger
station. Dietz said the
pilot followed the river to
the ranger station to allow
the summer help to get a
better view of the wilderness area. The plane's
only radio communication
was at take-off.
About halfway through
the flight the pilot announced to the passengers that they would have
to turn around and return
to the airport because of
mechanical problems.
Dietz said he soon
began to smell something
burning, and the plane
began to shake.
“We're thinking, 'Oh
shit,'” Dietz said. “What
are we going to do? Where
is he going to land this
thing?”
Thick trees covered the
wilderness area.
One in a million chance
No one on the plane
was aware of the severity
of the situation.
According to the aircraft investigation report
published two months
after the crash, gauges on
the plane lead the pilot
and co-pilot to believe the
plane was suffering “major engine failure” about
20 miles after takeoff.
What the pilots didn't
know was that an oil
transfer pipe was missing from the very recently
overhauled engine, and
that missing piece was
ultimately ruled the cause
of the crash. The plane
was designed to fly on one
engine, though, so the
pilot planned to return
to Grangeville. Because
the left engine failed, the
pilot turned on the right
engine. Unknown cracks
in that engine's cyclinders
caused flames to engulf
the engine and spread
across the wing. The heat
caused the few remaining
bolts to melt – many were
already broken or missing, the report said – and
that engine then fell from
the plane into the river
below. The plane had no
power. The odds of both
engines failing at the
same time were one in a
million, the report said.
The plane then glided
for about 3.5 miles after
the engine fell off, according to the report,
thanks to the skill of the
pilot and co-pilot, who
were attempting to land
the plane into the Selway River, a whitewater
river that was flooded at
the time. The river was
200 feet wide and 20 feet
deep at the crash site, the
report said, which gave
the 95-foot-wide powerless plane a very narrow
landing area.
According to the report,
the pilot skillfully managed to glide the powerless plane over the river
in an attempt to land.
Surviving a crash
The passengers were
told to fasten their seat-
of the wing, fell out. There
was never an official
decision on how Dietz
and Taylor got out of the
aircraft.
The plane hit the
water at about 100 miles
an hour and broke into
pieces on impact. It was
about 9:50 a.m.
The time from engine
failure to impact was
about four minutes, the
report said. The plane
was 15 miles from its destination when it crashed.
Sixteen people hiking
and rafting in the wilderness area that morning
reported seeing flames
coming from the engine
and the plane flying low,
and some photographed
the plane's last few minutes, including the burning engine falling from
the plane. No one saw it
crash, but one man heard
the impact, according
to the report. The thick
wilderness prevented him
from reaching the crash
site for hours.
Another survivor
Dietz had just pulled
himself from the river
and dodged the crashed
plane's wing while standing on a boulder at the
river's edge when he saw
“another survivor” getting
out of the water a couple
hundred yards away. He
had a dog with him.
That other survivor
was 17-year-old Bryant Stringham, who was
Public Notices
(First published in The Belleville
Telescope June 15, 2017)3t
(First published in The Belleville
Telescope June 8, 2017)3t
IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF
REPUBLIC COUNTY, KANSAS
IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF
REPUBLIC COUNTY, KANSAS
In the Matter of the Estate of
Audrey O. Nichols, Deceased
Case No. 17-PR-25
In the matter of the Estate of
HAROLD NOBLE, deceased
Case No. 15-PR-09
The plane carrying Dietz and 11 others crashed in
the Selway River on a June 11, 1979, flight from
Grangeville to the Moose Creek Ranger Station.
himself from the river.
He saw Dietz and made
his way over to him.
According to Dietz, he
and Stringham pulled
an in-shock and injuredbut-concious Taylor out
of the water and splinted
his leg. Stringham, who
was an Eagle Scout and
uninjured, then decided
to go for help. He had
worked in the wilderness
area the previous summer
and knew the way to the
ranger station.
He hiked through
what he described as the
roughest territory he has
ever been through. The
terrain was steep and
lacked trails. He made it
two miles when he came
upon a man with a mule
team. He borrowed a
horse from the man and
rode the rest of the nearly
13 miles to the Moose
Creek Ranger Station,
where he arrived at 5:27
p.m.
when they reached him,
but he died minutes later.
Dietz was then lifted up
by a basket dangling from
a helicopter. He suffered
a torn ligament in his leg
in addition to cuts and
bruises.
The next day, the German Shepherd belonging
to the woman sitting next
to Dietz was found alive.
It wasn't until Wednesday that the dog's owner,
along with four other
people, were found dead
three miles downstream.
The remaining bodies
were recovered later that
week with the exception
of the pilot's, who was
found July 14.
Dietz was unable to
work that summer because of his leg injury,
but he worked for the Forest Service two more summers. He saw Stringham
out on the trails once.
Budget cuts to the
forest service eliminated
a permanent position for
Dietz, he said, so he and
his wife moved to Republic where he farmd for her
family.
Dietz said he was
“haunted” by the crash
for years. Planes flying
overhead still bother him,
he said, and while he
does still fly in airplanes,
take off, landing and
turbulence still give him
anxiety.
Dietz said the date
of the crash holds significance for him still, and
the numbers 6-11-79 are
important to him.
Dietz said he is angry
that two different companies – a maintenance
company and an engine
re-building company –
showed neglect in the
crash that cost nine
people their lives, and he
often wonders what could
have been.
“If we had taken a
direct path to the station instead of the scenic
route, we would have
gotten there faster, and
maybe we would have
made it,” he said.
Rescued
Dietz said his leg hurt
and his back hurt, so
FILE PURSUANT TO CHAPTER THE STATE OF KANSAS TO
he decided it was best
59 OF THE KANSAS STATUTES ALL PERSONS CONCERNED:
to sit on the boulder
ANNOTATED
and wait for help. He
You are hereby notified that
THE STATE OF KANSAS TO a petition has been filed in this
watched wreckage and
ALL PERSONS CONCERNED:
Court by Violet I. Awalt, duly
pieces of cargo wash up
You are hereby notified that appointed, qualified and acting
on the shore. Taylor was
on the 12th day of June 2017, a Administratrix of the Estate of
badly injured and unable
Petition to Admit Foreign Will to Harold Noble, deceased, prayProbate and Record was filed in ing petitioner’s acts can be apto communicate. Dietz
this Court by Tommie A. Roe, a proved; account be settled and A photographer hiking in the wilderness area photo- would sit and wait for
beneficiary of Audrey O. Nichols, allowed; the heirs be deterdeceased requesting that: the mined; the Estate be assigned graphed the flaming engine as it fell from the plane. nearly 7.5 hours.
When the plane didn't
foreign Will of Audrey O. Nichols, to the persons entitled thereto
deceased, dated November 21, pursuant to the laws of intestate belts and hold hands,
reach its destination, a
concious
throughout
the
2002, be admitted to probate and succession; fees and expenses
search plane was displane crash. A variety of
record in this Court; no adminis- be allowed; costs be determined Dietz said of the moment
patched. Part of the
tration of the Estate is necessary; and ordered paid; the adminis- they learned the plane
newspapers published
wreckage was spotted at
the Will be construed and the fol- tration of the Estate be closed; was going down. They
Stringham's account:
lowing Kansas real estate owned the Administratrix be discharged were silent in the mo12:05 p.m., according to
Stringham
sat
at
the
back
by the decedent, situated in the and petitioner and the surety
the official report. A surviments
before
the
crash.
of
the
plane.
His
Beagle
State of Kansas:
on Administratrix’s bond be revor, Dietz, was spotted at
“We're all thinking,
leased from further liability.
was tied to his seat with
12:34 p.m. by the search
The North half of the Southwest
You are required to file your 'This is the end' and hold- twine. The plane hit the
Quarter (N½ SW¼) of Section
written defenses thereto on or ing hands,” he said.
plane, but the thick trees
tree
and
sharply
veered
Thirteen (13), Township Three before June 30, 2017 at 10:00
and flooded river made
He
thought
about
his
into
the
water,
where
it
(3) South, Range One (1) West a.m. in the District Court, Reit difficult for rescuers to
of the Sixth P.M. in Republic public County, Kansas at which family and his certain mo- hit with a jolt. He was
reach him.
County Kansas;
time and place the cause will be mentary death.
thrown hard against
heard. Should you fail therein,
Smokejumpers jumped
“When
you
think
you
his
seatbelt.
The
plane
and
judgment and decree will be
near
the site of the crash,
are
about
to
die
you
think
broke
into
a
few
pieces
entered in due course upon the
but it took them more
about what's important to and floated down the
The East Twenty (20) Acres of the Petition.
than four hours to reach
southeast quarter of the southViolet I. Awalt you,” he said.
flooded river in “sickenwest quarter (SE¼ SW¼); and
Administratrix
Dietz and Taylor because
That's
the
last
thing
he
ing
silence.”
He
was
till
the south fourteen (14) acres of
of the terrain.
remembers
before
waking
fastened
in
his
seatbelt
the West Sixty (60) acres of the SWOYER& SIMMS
At 5:35 p.m. smokeup at the bottom of the
south half of the southwest quar- Attorneys at Law
and sitting in waist-deep
jumpers reached Dietz.
ter (S½ SW¼) of Section thirty- 1830 M Street, P.O. Box 39
river.
water that was colored
one (31), in Township Three (3), Belleville, Kansas 66935-0039
The passengers may all deep-red with the blood of They provided aide to
South, of Range one (1), East Phone (785)-527-5316
Taylor, who was still alive
have
survived if the pilot
the passengers he could
of the Sixth P.M. in Washington Attorney for Administratrix
had successfully landed
County, Kansas, containing 34
see sitting in the plane.
acres, more or less.
in the river, according to
They appeared unconanother
pilot
who
flew
cious. He tried to hold
be assigned in accordance with
that route for the forest
one man's head above the
Auction held at the 4-H building at the Fair Grounds in ​Belleville,
the terms of the Will.
service and was quoted in water but soon had to let
You are required to file your
Kansas.
written defenses to the petition
a local newspaper in the
go. He tried to free several
on or before July 10, 2017,
SATURDAY
JUNE 24
days after the crash.
people from their seatat 9:00 a.m. in the District Court,
Instead,
the
plane's
left
Starting
at
10:00
a.m.
belts
but
couldn't
because
in the City of Belleville, Republic
wing collided with a tree
County, Kansas, at which
of the swirling water.
time and place the cause will
HOUSEHOLD
about 100 feet above the
He hoped to ride the
be heard. Should you fail to file
Kenmore side by side refrigerator bottom freezer w. water & ice, like
ground,
which
sheared
off
plane
down
the
river,
but
your written defenses, judgment
new; Samsung front load large tub matching washer & dryer on
15 feet of wing, according when it became apparent
and decree will be entered in due
to the report. The collipedestals; Amish fancy solid oak dinning table, leaves, w. 6 bent back
course upon the Petition.
that the wreckage he was
sion with the tree caused
oak chairs; breakfast drop leaf table & 2 chairs; 2- LG nice 42in. color
floating in may soon sink,
/s/ Nels P. Noel
the
plane
to
tilt
with
the
flat screen TVs; Vizeo 18in color flat screen TV; 2 oak entertainment
he
cut
his
dog
loose
and
Nels P. Noel, #17619
nose down and the left
tables; 4 fancy figurine shelves; several nice book cases; large Lazy Boy
floated out the cargo door,
Attorney at Law
wing low – likely the point which was ripped open on
couch like new; Lazy Boy brown leather couch & matching recliner
136 W Sixth St.
Concordia, KS 66901
when Dietz and Taylor,
chair; glass coffee table; oak end tables; radios; table lamps; glider rocker
impact.
(785) 243-9884
who were sitting in front
w. foot stool; roll top writing desk; 2 drawer filing cabinet; 4 piece oak
He got caught in the
colored king size bedroom set; 3 piece gray queen bedroom set; night
rushing water's undertow
stands; 2 chest of drawers; Hoover & Oreck upright vacuum cleaners; 2
and was forced to the
Amish elect. fire places; elect. heater; Schwinn air dyne bike; wood TV
bottom of the river. He
(First published in The Belleville Telescope June 15, 2016)1t
trays; card table & chairs; craft, cook, & health books; hall tree;
prayed for strength from
osculating fans; elect. kitchen appliances; dishes; pots; pans; bake ware;
the bottom of the river
Tupperware; holiday items; 3ft bevel & fancy scrolled mirrors; wood
before being swept down
Budweiser beer box; gas iron; glass patio table, & 6 chairs w. end tables;
river along the bank. He
yard ornaments; cast bird bath; large BBQ gas grill; & other.
grabbed a rock and pulled
Auction has very nice modern furniture & appliances.
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Clerk: Scott Clerking, Belleville, Ks.