Airplane Crash
REMAINS OF CRASHED PLANE - Four persons died in this plane which crashed about 2 1/2 miles north of Veedersburg Saturday. Dead are John A. Ritenour, Dwight Keith Morran, his wife, Nancy Jo, and Mrs. Jack Powell. Jack Powell is the lone survivor of the plane crash. Local authorities are assisting FAA investigators from Indianapolis and Chicago as to the cause of the plane crash.
Source: "Obituaries - Year - 1960 Volume B" from the Covington Public Library. May 1967
The sole survivor of a single engine plane crash Saturday morning in a woods north of Veedersburg is listed in "fair" condition at St Elizabeth Hospital in Danville, Ill.
Jack Powell, 36, of Covington, suffers from a fractured left arm, face, chest and leg lacerations and a dislocated shoulder. He has been removed from the intensive care unit.
Powell was spotted by James Keith at 7 a.m. as he stood near a country road about 2 1/2 miles north of Veedersburg after having walked through a half-mile of woods from the scene of the crash on the Frank Briner farm.
Powell had probably been unconscious about three hours at the crash scene awaking about dawn, according to Fountain County Sheriff Art Cruea who was among those investigating the tragedy.
Killed in the crash. of the Piper Commanche 250 was the owner and pilot, John Ritenour, 41, Covington. He had been associated with his father, Fred, in the oil distribution business. He was also a commercial pilot.
Powell's wife, Roberta, 33, Covington.
Dwight Morran, 26, Williamsport Rt. 2, employed at Phelp's Salvage Yard north of Covington.
Morran's wife, Nancy, 25, also of Williamsport Rt. 2.
The group left from Vermilion County Airport in Danville about 2 a.m. Saturday, reportedly headed for Indianapolis. The plane cracked into the wooded area, searing off both wings, and clipping off the limbs of several trees. The passengers, with the exception of Powell, were thrown from the plane as far as about 41 feet. Powell was not thrown from the left rear seat in the four-passenger plane.
Investigators on the scene shortly after the incident as reported found one wing of the plane several yards behind the wreckage and another wing crumpled up close to the vehicle.
The crash was not discovered until about 7 a.m. James K. (Kenneth) Keith, leaving home to drive into Veedersburg to work, saw Powell, apparently badly hurt, clinging to a fence post in a nearby pasture.
"There are four more out there," Powell was quoted as telling Keith "One of them is my wife, but there's nothing you can do for them,"
Investigators on the scene shortly after the incident as reported found one wing of the plane several yards behind the wreckage and another wing crumpled up Close to the vehicle.
The cockpit was twisted and smashed with parts of the panel being strewn all over the area of impact. Two hats from a nearby tree in front of the wreckage and shoes and playing cards were scattered in addition to parts of the plane, such as earphones, compass and a seat of the plane.
Investigator Siedlein of the Civil Aeronautics Board of Chicago said this morning he had no idea as to how long investigation of the crash would take.