In May of 1963, a Piper aircraft carrying 5 persons crashed into the north side of Hanging Rock Ridge. Two persons died as a result of the wreck. Hanging Rock Ranger Sam Koch presented a short program at the visitors center for our group, the Friends of Sauratown Mountains. Sam's research detailed the causes of the wreck, the local response and some more recent events which are indirectly related to that day.
The five aboard were all employees of the Grand Piano and Furniture Co of Roanoke Virginia. They were en route from Roanoke to Hickory that day. The FAA report attributed several factors as the cause. The plane was flying too low, low cloud cover was present, there was icing which may have prevented proper operation and alcohol was cited as well. Locals heard the plane sputter as it flew low toward the mountain. A loud noise followed. The first on the scene were a crew of power company employees working nearby. Word spread quickly. Many folks made the trek as did reporters, an ambulance, a nurse and many others. The scene was gruesome with terrible trauma. Sam did not report these details. On the wrist of one of the victims, a stopped watch indicated the wreck occurred about 11:40 am. The scene was not cleared until 4 pm.
The wreck site had been mostly forgotten over the years. Staff at the state park changes and things and places get forgotten. Just a few years ago, former park superintendent, Dave Cook, was shown a high resolution aerial photograph with a shiny spot amid mountain laurel. Dave found the wreckage and shortly afterward, the plague above was placed on the plane.
The daughter of one of the victims, now age 60 and in poor health, expressed a desire to see the wreck which caused her to grow up without a father. State park staff along with local firefighters and a number of other locals agreed to take her there. They formed 3 groups of 6 with 2 alternates to carry her up in basket attached to 2 poles for carrying. Although they had permission to cross private property, making the trip shorter, it was still a grueling feat to accomplish but all agreed it was well worth it as she was so grateful and overwhelmed by everything. Sam pointed out, this occurred on the first Saturday last November. In Stokes County that would be prime deer hunting time for many of the basket bearers.
Our group managed the off trail excursion well. We walked out in fair weather and back in the rain. Some of the rock scrambling was slick on the return but much fun for everyone.
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