Last year a book was released by author Damian Fowler about the horrific plane crash in Cook County in 2003. Two people died and two little girls survived the wreck, thanks in part to the search and rescue efforts of Cook County emergency responders and pilot Dan Anderson. Anderson visited with the author and the father of the two little girls at a book signing for Falling Through Clouds at Fitger’s in Duluth. (L-R) Author Damian Fowler, Dan Anderson, Toby Pearson.
Author Damian Fowler, a former CBC reporter and now New York journalist, has created a compelling book about the 2003 small plane crash in Cook County, above Grand Marais. Piloting his own Beechcraft Baron was Charlie Erickson. The impact of the crash and the subsequent fire killed Erickson and his sister-in law Kathryn Pearson, leaving her two little girls Grace and Lily alone and burned at the horrific crash site. Their tragic story was talked about in Minnesota and across the country for quite some time.
Fowler tells the story with the help and blessings of Carolyn Wall, Charlie’s widow and Toby Pearson, Grace and Lily’s father and Kathryn’s husband.
Toby Pearson is left alone, in fear and shock, to care for the badly burned Lily, who the doctors thought might not survive and Grace who wasn’t as badly burned, but had broken legs, and needed hospitalization as well. After emergency treatment at Cook County North Shore Hospital in Grand Marais, their major treatments began at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth and later at Regions Hospital in St. Paul for more intense skin grafting and other specialized care.
Grace, 4, and Lily, 3, were found on a plane seat just outside the fire ring at the crash site. With “Uncle Charlie” and their mother they had flown from Duluth to Grand Marais, so they could attend the 72nd birthday celebration for their maternal grandfather, Jack Wall, who with Charlie’s wife Carolyn, was awaiting their arrival at their cabin at Saganaga Lake.
As was planned, Toby who was delayed by business, and other family members would drive up later and gather at the cabin.
As the weather was so bad, it was a hard drive for Carolyn down the Gunflint Trail to the local airport, where she was to meet them. She checked in with Rodney Roy, the airport manager, who told her that Charlie had checked in, but hadn’t arrived, so he thought that he had turned around to go back to Duluth. She called the Duluth Airport only to learn they hadn’t heard from Charlie and that the plane hadn’t returned. Fowler describes her fears as she returned to the cabin and told her father that the plane was missing and recounts their rush back to the airport for any news of Charlie, Kathryn and her girls.
Meanwhile private pilot Dan Anderson, known locally as “Sky Dan,” had learned about the serious situation. He waited, hoping the weather would clear, before finally taking his plane and flying, even if it hadn’t cleared. He flew in the direction they would have gone if they’d overshot the airport.
At the same time Airport Manager Roy drove around using his hand guidance system to triangulate their location. Anderson was forced to fly low because of the heavy clouds, and finally located the crash in a logged area, among heavily wooded forest, not far from the airport.
Anderson signaled Sheriff Mark Falk, Deputy Joe Zallar and the Cook County Search & Rescue team, who had to access the site by all-terrain vehicles. With disbelief and shock they discovered the little girls—seriously injured but alive—on a reclined seat. They were transported as quickly as possible to the local hospital, to be met by their aunt Carolyn and grandfather Jack.
Fowler’s book tells of the years and efforts to heal the girls, both physically and mentally. The book shares the terrible obstacles Toby faced from the insurance company. The struggle went so far that the company sued him.
While in the midst of worrying about and caring for his little girls, Toby worked— successfully— to get laws pertaining to aviation insurance changed to make sure others wouldn’t be faced with what he had been at such a distressful time.
The author chronicles the tale of unbelievable survival, family love and liability, with empathy and sympathy. The friendship between him and his subjects is evident. Be prepared for a book that is hard to put down once you start reading.
The book is available at Amazon.com and at local book stores.
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