1982. Rick told me during my BFR in 1984 that it was believed the passenger's hiking boot jammed between the pedal and the hull after pushing on the pedal. Surprisingly sparse NTSB report considering this was an injury/fatal accident.



Frank Whiteley

If memory serves me, the passenger tried to climb down from the tree and fell to his death. I try to remember that even though things may be very very bad, I ask myself: If I do X, will this very bad situation get better or worse? If the answer isn't a resounding, GET BETTER..................I'll probably not try doing X.
Clem Bowman probably didn't know that his elevator had fallen off during takeoff, but he knew for sure that something was very wrong because he was in extreme low tow position despite holding full up elevator. Clem should have asked himself: If I release at 1000 feet, will this very bad situation get better or worse if I pull the release lever?
We will never know for sure because Clem is no longer with us.
JJ