W.W. Lewis, pilot of this Boeing 247, lost sight of the Saugus beam on approach to Burbank airport
in the fog on Jan. 12, 1937. He cut his engines and, at 11:15 a.m., attempted a "pancake" landing
on the side of Iron Mountain, south of Placerita Canyon on the Mendenhall Ridge along the Santa Clara Divide,
and midway between Newhall and what was identified
as the "lookout tower" — presumably Los Angeles County Fire Department Camp 9.
Passenger James A. Braden from Cleveland was killed on impact; Martin Johnson, identified in
news reports as a world-famous traveler and explorer, succumbed to his injuries the next day. Eleven
others, including the pilot, sustained injuries but survived.
George Starbuck writes [1/13/2012] - "Three of my uncles were the first ones to the scene, Ray, Charles and Edward Walker. They heard the plane go over and the sound of the crash. It was directly south of the upper house in Placerita. My grandfather drove down to Newhall to inform the sheriff and rescue crew. From what I remember, both of the Johnsons (Africa adventure film makers) were on board. Osa Johnson survived."
