A newspaper photograph of the wrecked plane that was pulled from the Susquehanna River near Millersburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, in May 1950. The pilot, Morris B. Levitz, a Lebanon furniture seller, was fatally injured and shortly afterward died in the Harrisburg Hospital. The legal wrangling regarding responsibility for the crash did not come to full resolution until 1957.
The following articles were located about the crash:
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From the Lebanon Daily News, 12 May 1950:
Morris Levitz Critically Injured When His Plane Hits Power Line
Aircraft Plunges Into Susquehanna Near Millersburg
Morris B. Levitz, 32, 222 South Eighth Street, a local furniture salesman, was critically injured yesterday when his small plane struck a power line and crashed into the Susquehanna River, near Millersburg.
Levitz was reported in “critical” condition with a possible scull fracture, internal injuries, cuts of the scalp and face, a possible fracture of the nose, and a deep cut over the left eye, according to the Harrisburg Hospital where he was rushed after being pulled from the plane’s cockpit by rescuers.
Two employees of the Central Construction and Supply Company, Harrisburg, pulled Levitz from the plane. The pair, Charles A. Hunter, 41, Duncannon, and Clarence Lowe, 24, Liverpool, were working on a nearbly river barge near the scene and pulled Levitz from the plane’s cockpit. After taking the injured man to shore, he was rushed to the hospital in the Liverpool Fire Company ambulance.
Witnesses in Millersburg, who saw the plane strike the high tension line. said at first they thought it had exploded in mid-air. This belief was caused by a puff of smoke which rose in the air as the plane struck the wire.
Charles Harner, 29, Liverpool, who was also on the barge with Hunter and Lowe, said he and his companions were returning home from work when they saw the pane strike the power line. Barner said the craft turned a somersault and nose-dived into the water.
Barner said the spot where the plane crashed into the river is known as “salmon hole” and is thought to be very deep.
Edward Fagnahl of the aeronautical division of the State Police, who is investigating the accident,said another pilot was injured in a similar accident at the same spot three years ago.
Capt. Warren Hunter, operated of the Millersburg Ferry, a quarter mile from the scene, also saw the plane crash. Hunter said a California pilot was killed in a crash at the same spot more than 20 years ago.
Levitz was flying out of the Millard Airport, Annville, where he keeps the plane, according to his wife, Mrs. Levitz, after she was notified of the plane crash by the hospital, said her husband had planned to bring their children from school yesterday afternoon, and apparently took the craft out for a flight first.
By an odd coincidence, just twenty years ago today, the first glider flight in Lebanon County was made by the crashed pilot’s two cousins, Leon Levitz and Samuel Levitz. The pair flew over a 50-yard course in their home-constructed glider.
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From the Pottstown Mercury, 13 May 1950:
Cousin of Levitz Brothers Injured in Plane Crash
Morris Levitz, 32, of Lebanon, an employee of the Levitz Furniture company’s Lebanon store, was in a critical condition in Harrisburg hospital yesterday following a plane crash Wednesday night.
Levitz, a cousin of Ralph Levitz and Leon Levitz, who run the Pottstown store, was flying his private plane over the Susquehanna River when it struck a power line and crashed into the water near Millersburg.
Members of a barge crew who saw the plane crash dragged Levitz from the ship as it started to sink. They later hoisted the wrecked plane from the river.
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From the Lebanon Daily News, 15 May 1950:
Morris Levitz Dies of Plane Crash Injuries
Succumbs Sunday After Wrecking Plane in Susquehanna River
Morris B. Levitz, 32, of the Hotel Walton Apartments, South Eighth Street, critically injured Thursday when his small airplane struck a power line and crashed into the Susquehanna River near Millersburg, passed away Sunday afternoon in the Harrisburg Hospital of injuries sustained in the crash.
Levitz died of a fractured scull, serious internal injuries, and cuts and bruises. Coroner S. J. Roberts of Dauphin County said there would be no inquest.
Levitz was pulled from the cockpit of his wrecked plane by two employees of the Central Construction and Supply Company, Harrisburg, who were working on a river barge near the scene. The pair, Charles A. Hunter, 41, of Duncannon, and Clarence Lowe, 24, of Liverpool, took the injured man to shore from where he was rushed to the hospital in the Liverpool Fire Company ambulance.
Witnesses, who saw the plane stripe the high tension line, said the craft turned a somersault and nose-dived into a deep fishing spot known as “Salmon Hole.”
Levitz was flying out of the Millard Airport, Annville, where he kept his private plans. State Policeman Edward Fagnani of the aeronautical division, said the accident is still under investigation.
A former resident of Hrrisburg, the victim of the fatal crash was employed as a furniture salesman at the Levitz Furniture Company store here [Lebanon].
He leaves his wife, Mrs. Ida [Joffy] Levitz and two sons, Barry Levitz and Joel Levitz, at home; two brothers, Israel Levitz, of Harrisburg, and Samuel Levitz of Bethlehem; and two sisters, Mrs. Lillian Cocen, of Richmond, Virginia, and Mrs. Helen Cartin, of Lima, Ohio.
Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. today from the funeral home at 1600 Market Street, Harrisburg. Rabbis Moses Etter and David Silver, officiated. Interment was made on Chisuk Emuna Cemetery, Harrisburg.
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From the Elizabethville Echo, 18 May 1950:
Pilot Is Victim of Plane Crash
Morris Levitz, 32, furniture salesman of Lebanon, was fatally injured when the small plane he was piloting, struck an electric power line wire and fell into the Susquehanna River south of Millersburg, last Thursday afternoon.
Levitz suffered a fractured scull and internal injuries and died in the Harrisburg Hospital Sunday afternoon.
The pilot was rescued from the river by Charles A. Hunter of Duncannon; Clarence Lowe and Charles Barner, of Liverpool. The three men are employed by the Central Construction and Supply Company of Harrisburg and operate a coal dredging barge.
Witnesses of the accident said they saw a puff of smoke as the plane hit the high tension wire and then drop into the waters of what is known as the “salmon hole” near the west shore of the river.
Wires of the power line span the river from the top of Berries Mountain near McClellan, to Mt. Patrick on the western shore of the river.
Levitz, a former resident of Harrisburg, is survived by his wife, Mrs. Ida [Joffy] Levitz; two sons, a sister, and two brothers.
Services were held Monday afternoon and interment was made in the Chisuk Emuna Cemetery at Harrisburg.
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From the Elizabethville Echo, 10 March 1955:
COURT RULES IN FATAL CRASH
Judge William H. Neely, sitting in Dauphin County Common Pleas Courth this week, held that a pilot flying his plane at an altitude of 125 feet and colliding with a transmission line does so at his own risk and is guilty of contributory negligence.
The ruling was given in connection with the court’s refusal to strike off a compulsory non-suit in a case of Morris Yoffee, administrator of the estate of his brother-in-law, Morris B. Levitz, late of Lebanon, against the Pennsylvania Power and Light Company, Allentown.
Levitz was fatally injured when his plane struck high tension electric lines of the utility company which span the Susquehanna River south of Millersburg.
In his ruling, Judge Neely stated there was no negligence on the company’s part in that the air space and surface were properly used, and further, that the company was within its rights and within reasonable bounds as concerned airplane travel.
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From the Elizabethville Echo, 28 February 1957:
REACH SETTLEMENT IN PLANE CRASH SUIT
Settlement of a damage suit of the estate of Morris B. Levitz, late of Lebanon, against the Pennsylvania Power and Light Company, was effected this week.
Under the settlement, approved by the Dauphin County Common Pleas Court, the estate received $35,000 from the utility company.
Levitz was injured when his plane, of which he was pilot, struck the electric company’s transmission lines which span the Susquehanna River about one mile south of Millersburg.
The accident occurred May 11, 1950, and Levitz died in a Harrisburg hospital several days later.
In the suit, it was contended there was nothing to warn fliers of the location of high tension lines at the point where the accident occurred.
Approval of the settlement by the court was required because minor children were involved.
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News articles from Newspapers.com.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.