Kearsarge Mountain, N. H. – July 5, 2004

January 13, 2025

Kearsarge Mountain, New Hampshire – July 5, 2004

     On July 5, 2004, a 48-year-old pilot and his 17-year-old son took off rom Plattsburgh, New York, bound for Concord, New Hampshire, in a Lake Buccaneer airplane, (reg. No. N6248V).  As the plane crossed into New Hampshire the pilot encountered thick clouds and poor weather, necessitating instrument flight rules.  At about 3:00 p.m. the plane crashed into the Wilmont side of Kearsarge Mountain in the Rollins State Park area killing the 17-year-old and critically injuring the father.  The top of the mountain was obscured by fog and clouds at the time of the accident.   

     Source:

     Derry News, “LHS Student Dies In Crash”, July 7, 2004

Filed Under: New Hampshire - Civil Tagged With: ,

Kearsarge, N. H. – December 5, 1948

January 20, 2021

Kearsarge, New Hampshire – December 5, 1948

     On December 5, 1948, a helicopter belonging to the New England Helicopter Service was transporting building materials up Pequawket Mountain, (also known as Kearsarge North), to be used to construct a fire tower at the summit.  The helicopter made it to the 3,268 foot summit, and as the pilot was about to land, the engine suddenly lost all power while the aircraft was still about 20 feet in the air.  As the helicopter fell, the 30-year-old pilot jumped clear and tumbled safely to the ground.  Meanwhile, the helicopter’s landing gear struck a rocky ledge causing it to flip on its side and burst into flames.  

     Source: The Nashua Telegraph, “Pilot Safe In Crash Of Helicopter”, December 6, 1948, page 1. 

Filed Under: New Hampshire - Civil Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Kearsarge Mountain, N.H. – Aug. 19, 1960

March 16, 2015

Kearsarge Mountain, N.H. – Aug. 19, 1960

On August 19, 1960, a single engine plane with three men aboard left Montpelier, Vermont bound for Manchester, New Hampshire, and disappeared.  Thunderstorms had been raging along the flight route, and it was assumed the plane had crashed, however dense foliage made it difficult to find the wreck. 

On November 6th the wreckage of the missing plane was discovered on the east slope of Kearsarge Mountain, about 20 miles north of Concord.  The bodies of two men, Charles MacFarland, and William E. Martin, were found at and near the scene.   A Medical Examiner determined that Martin had initially survived the crash, and managed to make it several hundred yards from the wreckage before he died.   The body of the third man, Oliver Newcomb was missing. 

Searchers found Newcomb’s body the following day about a mile from the crash site.  He had left a farewell not to his family on the back of a card in his wallet.     

Sources:

New York Times, “Plane With 2 Dead Found On Mountain”, November 7, 1960

Lewiston Evening Journal, “Renew Search For Body Of Plane Victim”, November 7, 1960

Lewiston Evening Journal, “Recover Third Body In Kearsarge Plane crash”, November 8, 1960 

 

 

Filed Under: New Hampshire - Civil Tagged With: , , , ,
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