1966 Lookout Mountain plane crash: Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 17:27, 10 February 2016
The 1966 Lookout Mountain plane crash was a fatal aviation accident that occurred on the evening of February 9, 1966 near Fort Payne in DeKalb County.
The accident killed pilot Bob Hoskins and State Senator Ryan deGraffenried Sr, who was campaigning for Governor of Alabama. The candidate had left a meeting in Fort Payne and was due for another engagement in Gadsden.
With storms approaching, two other members of the group chose to make the 40-mile trip southwest to Gadsden by automobile. DeGraffenried was dropped off at DeKalb County Airport where his plane, a blue and gray Cessna PA-22 "Tri-Pacer" was waiting with the pilot. The airport's manager tried to convince deGraffenried not to fly in the bad weather. Hoskins assured him he could complete the trip safely, and the two proceeded to embark.
During the plane's initial ascent, a sudden downdraft propelled the plane into the northern slope of Lookout Mountain, about 200 feet below the ridge. The wreckage was located early the next morning and both men were pronounced dead at the scene. Cash from campaign contributions collected at the previous day's event was scattered through the surrounding trees.
After deGraffenried's death, First Lady Lurleen Wallace entered the governor's race and went on to succeed her husband.
References
- Rogers, Lisa (February 9, 1996) "Plane crash remembered by friends, advisors" Gadsden Times