alaska airlines flight 261 pilot drunk
The NTSB report did not identify a probable cause of the crash. Thompson was an Air Force veteran who had flown for Alaska Airlines for more than 17 years. She used to drive a riding lawn mower around their yard, and relax in the family swimming pool. The pilots consisted of Captain Edward (Ted) Thompson, 53, who had 17,750 flight hours, and had more than 4,000 hours experience flying MD-80s. Did maintenance errors cause the tragic crash? SkyWest 5154, the MD-80 is one becoming two oclock about ten miles now. He was traveling with his wife, Barbara Ryan, and their sons, Bradford Patrick Ryan and James Ryan, and five friends of James Ryan. Alaska Airlines 261 is a chartered flight operated by Alaska Airlines. By requesting any altitude between 20,000 and 25,000 feet, the crew of flight 261 could ensure that if they nosedived again, nearby planes wouldnt be in danger. I didnt want to call you guys, said the flight attendant, but that girl theyre like, you better go up there and tell them., I need you strapped in, dear, said Thompson, cause Im going to release the back pressure and see if I can get it back.. She was a treasured volunteer at a Eugene elementary school. But when we slowed down lets slow it, lets get it down to two hundred knots and see what happens., Now Thompson and Tansky slowed down and deployed the flaps and slats, simulating a landing configuration, to make sure the plane would be controllable on final approach. For several months he surreptitiously recorded his bosses violating safety rules and handed the tapes over to FAA investigators. The pilots decided that Los Angeles looked better. What he liked best in life was family, said his longtime medical assistant. Steve Wilkie, 38, San FranciscoThe brand manager of the Levi Strauss Silvertab clothing line, Mr. Wilkie had recently received the companys exalted Koshman Award in recognition for his work on marketing in Europe. (Alaska specifically did this every 30 months, or 9,550 flight hours.) I think if its controllable, we ought to just try and land it, said Tansky. Thats affirm, said Thompson. Keep in mind that the pitch of the stabilizer itself is actually inverse to the pitch of the airplane.). Russell and Permison lived in a retirement community where they were beloved for their lively parties and volunteer work. The rows jump straight from 12 to 14. It got worse, okay. Violent vibrations shook the airplane. Market data provided by Factset. He once owned the reknowned Blue Moon Tavern in the University District and the J & M Cafe in Pioneer Square. Rodney Pearson, 45, SeattleMr. If a pilot is discovered to have a BAC of 0.04 or more, the FAA can have the pilots license suspended for a year or place criminal charges, even if they havent taken off in an aircraft. Charlene Sipe, 53, BrierTraveling with Harry Stasinos, Ms. Sipe was also a longtime insurance agent. Less than one second later, Alaska Airlines flight 261 slammed into the Pacific Ocean, obliterating the aircraft and instantly killing all 88 people on board. Larry Baldridge Jr., 34, Novato, Calif.A businessman with a knack for the Internet, he was working to set up venture-capital business with Michael Schwab, the son of legendary brokerage leader Charles Schwab. Thus the fundamental principle of redundancy was violated. By now the plane had leveled out at about 23,500 feet, after plunging 7,500 feet in 80 seconds. Video of the flight as well as the cockpit voice recorder confirm this. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also revoked his pilots license. The seemingly simple task of greasing the jackscrew was not immune to this degradation of the maintenance environment. Yeah, we got it back under control here.. The charge of operating a common carrier while under the influence of alcohol or drugs carries a statutory maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. His mother said he was a sweet, handsome man who loved his job and loved people. He also served for a time with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Uh, its a lot worse than it was? Tansky asked. I dont know, my adrenalines going, said Thompson. As they struggled to regain control, Thompson radioed Los Angeles and said, Center, Alaska two six one, we are in a dive here, and Ive lost control, vertical pitch! An overspeed warning blared in the cockpit. Pilots of nearby planes caught sight of flight 261 and radioed Los Angeles air traffic control. In December of 1998 the federal government launched a criminal investigation into Alaska Airlines, seizing documents and interviewing witnesses. Joyce Lake, 62, Corte Madera, Calif.She was the top seller at a local real-estate brokerage, an avid community activist and mother of three grown sons. Alaska has not had a fatal crash since the overhaul, nor has there been another major loss of a US airliner due to any kind of mechanical failure. What would cause an airplane to nosedive? Friends described her as a culture bearer who mastered all she attempted. Many things can cause at least the start of a dive from a pilot suffering a heart attack and slumping onto the control column to a failure of the motor used to help raise and lower the nose. After Alaska Airlines received the test results it removed Arntson from all safety-sensitive duties. Prosecutors said that Arnston was an alcoholic during at least a substantial portion" of his career, and concealed the fact from both the carrier and FAA. She was traveling with her fiance, Malcolm Branson. But mostly he loved his wife, his grown son, golf and travel. Who is the man on the tail of Alaska Airlines planes? A ground-service agent for Horizon Air, she was outgoing and athletic, an avid volleyball player who hoped to become a personal trainer. The pilots, 53-year-old Captain Ted Thompson and 57-year-old First Officer Bill Tansky, could not have known that they were about to play out the final chapter in a sordid story that had been building toward its conclusion for years. You want to try it or not?, Keying the public address system, Captain Thompson announced, Folks, we have had a flight control problem up front here; were working it Uh, thats Los Angeles off to the right there, thats where were intending to go. He had gone to Mexico with his cousins, Anjesh Prasad and Avinesh Prasad, to celebrate. When the jackscrew was hauled to the surface, investigators could not find any trace of grease on it, except for some old, dried out leftovers outside the normal working area of the screw. The horrific crash killed all 88 people on board and raised troubling questions about one of Americas largest airlines. Video Alaska Airlines Pilot Accused of Flying Drunk - ABC News Jimmy Carter Kellie Pickler's husband dies Georgia shooting Escaped NYC zoo owl Tesla union launch Alaska Airlines Pilot Accused of Flying Drunk Authorities say 60-year-old David Hans Arnston flew drunk twice in one day. Please enter valid email address to continue. In the ten minutes that had passed since the dive, the stabilizer had been held at 3.1 degrees nose down by nothing more than the mechanical stop on the bottom of the jackscrew. Consequences of Flying Drunk So what happens when a pilot is arrested for flying under the influence? Juan Marquez, 34, San FranciscoAn adult-education book salesman, he owned two condos in Puerto Vallarta with his partner, Dale Rettinger, and went there often to relax. / CBS News. Less than one second later, Alaska Airlines flight 261 slammed into the Pacific Ocean, obliterating the aircraft and instantly killing all 88 people on board. The airline extended numerous maintenance intervals, while simultaneously skimping on personnel and training. Clemetson was traveling with her husband, Dr. David Clemetson and their family. You got it?. And so began a slash-and-burn cost-cutting campaign a campaign that culminated in a terrible black mark which will forever hang over the company, a tragedy so horrible and so preventable that it would call the safety of the entire industry into question. Well see you at the gate. This would be the last transmission between flight 261 and Alaska Airlines maintenance. The stab trim, I think.. Numerous people saw the plane flying parallel to a mountain ridge before it turned and descended. A Newport Beach airline pilot has been arrested and charged with piloting an Alaska Airlines jet full of passengers while under the influence of alcohol, authorities said Thursday. The Gulf of California stretched out below them, bright and blue. Charles Weimer, 31, and three others died in the Aug. 4 crash near Girdwood, a ski town in the municipality of Anchorage. But airline dispatchers in Seattle were less keen on this idea and preferred that flight 261 continue to San Francisco as scheduled. He was working in Microsofts games group as a temporary employee for ArtSource. N963AS nearly made it anyway its next jackscrew inspection was scheduled for March 2000. Hes in sight, hes, uh, definitely out of control, said the SkyWest pilot. Mechanical stops attached to the jackscrew prevent the stabilizer from moving farther than 2.5 degrees upward or 12.5 degrees downward. However, this premise was based on the assumption that one of the threads might separate from the nut due to metal fatigue or improper workmanship, and did not consider the possibility of abnormal wear simultaneously compromising the strength of both threads. The logo was changed to an image of a smiling Eskimo, which remains today. Salvage vessels had to be brought in to raise the rest of the plane from the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. Do smaller potatoes take less time to bake. Bermudez was a firefighter who helped save the life of a person trapped inside a burning building in 1988. He worked at Travel Trends in San Francisco, and was traveling with a friend, James Luque. No survivors from Flight 261 have been found. Should you poke holes in potatoes before boiling? A cemetery posted a personal ad for a goose whose mate died. What I want to do is get the nose up, and then let the nose fall through and see if we can stab it when its unloaded. It was his belief that the stabilizer might move nose up if there was no aerodynamic force pushing it upward into the nose down position. Former owner of a travel business, she was a very giving person, friends said, and was working toward a masters degree in art therapy. Alex Murdaugh sentenced to life in prison for murders of wife and son, Biden had cancerous skin lesion removed last month, doctor says, White supremacist and Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes kicked out of CPAC, Tom Sizemore, actor known for "Saving Private Ryan" and "Heat," dies at 61, Biden team readies new advisory panel ahead of expected reelection bid, At least 10 dead after winter storm slams South, Midwest, House Democrats unhappy with White House handling of D.C.'s new criminal code. N963AS, the plane that would later become Alaska Airlines flight 261, was one of many in the airlines fleet that was subject to these marginal maintenance practices. While Tansky held the plane steady, Thompson contacted LAX maintenance again. AMERICAN AIRLINES PASSENGER BITTEN BY BROWN RECLUSE SPIDER ON PLANE, LAWSUIT CLAIMS. A former Alaska Airlines captain faces jail time for piloting a plane carrying passengers while under the influence of alcohol, over four years after the incident took place. The rec room at the Karlsson home featured a jukebox, a pinball machine and a bumper-pool table. Yes sir, he he hit the water, said the SkyWest pilot, his voice nearly cracking. He was traveling with several college friends. She had treated herself to a weekend getaway in Puerto Vallarta and was scheduled to go on the air two hours after the flight was expected to land in San Francisco. At least upside down, were flying!. He was coming home from Mexico with his girlfriend, Nina Voronoff. Nine years after the cost-cutting began, Alaska Airlines was posting profits again, its fleet was expanding, and passenger numbers were higher than ever. It added dozens of new routes, expanded to a large number of new cities, and even added services to Mexico in order to offset the seasonal nature of its flights to Alaska. Its an outcome that has left many of them bitter to this day. You have the airplane. The outcomes of wrongful death suits against Alaska filed by the victims families are unknown, but it has been reported that the airline eventually settled with the families out of court for a total of at least $300 million, all of which was covered by insurance. The design of the jackscrew on the MD-80 series was identical to that of the original 1960s-era Douglas DC-9, which was certified to meet requirements stating that no reasonably probable single failure of the control system could jeopardize the controllability of the airplane. As the NTSB investigation continued, so too did the criminal investigation and the saga of John Liotine. How long were they stuck in the woods after the plane crash? January 22, 2016 Examined 9:54 Whats next for Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Alaska Airlines 261 is a chartered flight operated by Alaska Airlines. Deborah Penna, 27, SeattleA fourth-year art student at Cornish College of the Arts, Ms. Penna was a multimedia artist known for her abstract paintings. The report noted that the crash could have been avoided if they had immediately returned to Puerto Vallarta when they encountered the jammed stabilizer. Technical logs fell through the cracks; critical forms were left incomplete; paperwork was outright falsified to show work done when it was not. Fire on Lake City Way in Seattle raises smoke, flooding concerns, WA to end masking requirement in health care, correctional facilities, Tacoma woman refusing tuberculosis treatment continues to face arrest, Be bolder to get light rail done, expert panel tells Sound Transit, Driver makes U-turn, hits pedestrian near Pioneer Square, police say. No decision was made at this point about whether or not to divert. What caused Alaska Airlines 261 to crash? On board flight 261, Captain Thompson vented to First Officer Tansky: Drives me nuts, he said. If done correctly, the process took about four hours. WebOn Flight 261, the nut portion of the jackscrew (located on the horizontal stabilizer) screwed itself off the jackscew. LOS ANGELES -- Federal authorities have arrested a former Alaska Airlines captain on federal charges of piloting a plane while intoxicated. So theyre trying to put pressure on you, said Tansky. The Knights, who had recently celebrated their 32nd wedding anniversary at the time of the crash, began their ministry with Bible readings in their home in 1978. At 16:09, he said, Im gonna click it off. An avid outdoorsman and Spanish language graduate of Western Washington University, he was traveling with his parents and with long-time friends, Michael Bernard, Ryan and Abigail Busche, Russel Ing and Deborah Penna. She and Monte Donaldson had just bought a home and planned to be married, then honeymoon in Ireland and Bali. He came to America from Fiji when he was 17 months old. Alaska two sixty one, say again sir, said the controller. Gabriela Chavez, 33, Puerto Vallarta, MexicoA homemaker, wife and mother of one, Ms. Chavez was flying to San Francisco to visit her sister. But over the next two decades, Alaska Airlines pursued an aggressive strategy of expansion, aiming to become an affordable option for travelers throughout the Western United States. You got it? The lead mechanic that day was John Liotine, a rare Alaska Airlines employee who still took safety seriously. Did it happen went in reverse? Tansky asked. Did you encounter any technical issues? No survivors Erickson indicated that he and the pilot had been drinking alcoholic beverages, investigator Brice Banning wrote. Ryan Sparks, 20, EnumclawA graduate of Enumclaw High School, Mr. Sparks was traveling with his girlfriend, Meghann Hall, and her friend Rachel Janosik. It really wants to pitch down., Alaska two six one, said the controller, Say your condition?, Two six one, we are at 24,000 feet, kinda stabilized, said Thompson. Tragically, they didnt. Flight 261 was traveling from Puerto Vallarta to San Francisco on Jan. 31, 2000 when a mechanical malfunction inverted the jet and sent it downward off the Ventura County coast. Monte Donaldson, 31, SeattleA freelance landscaper, his passion was music and filmmaking. Both Captain Thompson and First Officer Tansky posthumously received the Air Line Pilots Association Gold Medal for Heroism. The controller granted the block altitude. David Hans Arntson, 62, of Newport Beach, California, agreed to enter a guilty plea in US District Court this week. At Alaska Airlines, our roots trace back to the Great Depression and the resourcefulness of Mac McGee. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. Almost all of these recommendations were implemented. Bradley Long, 39, SacramentoA successful real estate broker, Mr. Long was flying home from visiting the bed-and-breakfast inn he owned in Puerto Vallarta with his partner, William Knudson. Therefore the interval between jackscrew inspections was effectively increased from 26 to 30 months without the FAA spending a single minute looking into whether or not this was appropriate. How should I dress my baby in a 70 degree room at night? Mr. Williams wore a ring identifying him as a Mason; the ring was found off the California coast and saved as a gift for his daughter, Tracy Knizek. But as the airline began cutting costs over the following decade, one of the areas that got put on the chopping block was maintenance. Abigail Busche, 25, SeattleRecently hired by Microsoft as a permanent employee, she was traveling with her husband, Ryan Busche. Even though the pilots fought for control for a short period, an MD-80 will not FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS. Retired from a career at the U.S. Treasury, he collected miniature trains and loved to take his wife on rail trips. Related: Has my pilot had too much to drink? WebAlaska Flight 261 Pilots Awarded ALPA Gold Medal Air Line Pilot, March 2001, p. 22 By Chris Dodd, Staff Writer Two Alaska Airlines pilots who fought until their last moments to regain control of their MD-80 despite an inoperative horizontal stabilizer have been honored with ALPAs Gold Medal for Heroism in a special ceremony in Seattle. The crew scrambled to react to the massive upset. He was the grandson of O.B. She was a first-grader at Hay Elementary. Alaska Airlines had hung him out to dry, and to add insult to injury, his blowing the whistle failed to prevent the crash of flight 261. Ballet lessons and cooperative day care were part of her life. Although the exact identity of the Eskimo is unknown, some believe it to be the face of either Chester Seveck, a reindeer herder in Kotzebue, or Oliver Amouak, an Inupiat Eskimo. Many of Alaskas maintenance workers received on the job training only without any formal curriculum. Stanford Poll, 59, Mercer IslandHe was a colorful and visionary entrepreneur with many business and property interests. At 15:55, the dispatcher returned with wind speeds, wind directions, and runway conditions at San Francisco and Los Angeles. Do you poke holes in potatoes when boiling? Among major US airlines, Alaska has charted perhaps the most unusual course across its long and fascinating history. Lorna Thorgrimson, 52, PoulsboTraveling with her husband, Robert Thorgrimson, Mrs. Thorgrimson was also accompanied by her close friends, Patty and Bob Williams. Visit r/admiralcloudberg to read and discuss over 190 similar articles. I really didnt want to hear about flow being the reason youre calling us, he said to the dispatcher, Cause Im concerned about overflying suitable airports., Well we want to do whats safe, said the dispatcher, so if thats what you feel is safe we just want to make sure you have all the info., The pilots asked for information on the runway conditions in San Francisco, and the dispatcher temporarily signed off to go find some. For Linious Mac McGee, 1932 marked the beginning of a new way of life, and steady work. Lives would have been saved if they had. Okay, right rudder, right rudder, said Thompson. Emily Ost, 4 months, San Bruno, Calif.She was the infant daughter of Ileana and Robert Ost. Keep us advised.. In September 2000, he filed a $20 million libel lawsuit against Alaska Airlines, arguing that he had been right all along and that Alaska had maliciously harmed his reputation. PLANE CRASH, Alaska Airlines Flight 261, Pacific Ocean Other Videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list more. View on timesmachine. PLANE CRASH, Alaska Airlines Flight 261, Pacific Ocean Other Videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list more. January 22, 2016 Examined 9:54 Whats next for Avinesh Prasad, 19, BurienA beloved employee of HomeGrocer.com and a star on the company soccer team, he moved from Fiji with his family when he was 18. Erickson indicated that he and the pilot had been drinking alcoholic beverages, investigator Brice Banning wrote. Alaska Airlines flight AS261 crashed on January 31, 2000, about 1621 Pacific standard time, Alaska Airlines, Inc., flight AS261, a McDonnell Douglas MD-83, N963AS : it crashed into the Pacific Ocean about 2.7 miles north of Anacapa Island, California.. In the cockpit, the pilots heard a loud clunk followed by two thumps, and the plane pitched steeply downward. First, pressurized grease was to be injected into a special tube on the nut until it filled all the thread gaps between the nut and the jackscrew and started to bulge out the top. When daughter Grace was born two years ago, he started saving Sundays for family. FAA employees charged with overseeing safety compliance at Alaska before the crash complained that they did not have sufficient staff to closely track its operations, which doubtlessly contributed to the airlines ability to keep woefully deficient maintenance practices under the radar of the federal government. Not that I want to go on about it you know, it just blows me away they think were gonna land, theyre gonna fix it, now theyre worried about the flow. By nightfall, working with the help of flood lights from squid fishing boats, recovery workers managed to find just seven bodies. More importantly, investigators felt that the pilots should not have attempted to troubleshoot the problem after exhausting the procedures in the checklist, considering that they didnt know the extent of the damage. Jerri Fosmire, 48, Eugene, Ore.She was returning home early from a family vacation in Puerto Vallarta after suffering a back injury. It might be mechanical damage too. What a hard way to die: so an airline can make more money., ________________________________________________________________. For the next few minutes, they calculated landing weights and center of gravity and other values while controllers in Los Angeles prepared to accommodate them. Allen Friedmann, 48, Round Lake Beach, Ill.A marathon runner remembered for being a good neighbor in his Chicago suburb, Mr. Friedmann is survived by his wife, a daughter, 16, and a son, 5. As Thompson fought with all his might to regain control, Tansky shouted Mayday! but forgot to key his mic. No survivors Erickson indicated that he and the pilot had been drinking alcoholic beverages, investigator Brice Banning wrote. Despite Alaska Airlines numerous regulatory violations, the investigation ended in 2003 without any charges being filed. Grace Pearson, 23 months, SeattleLittle Grace Pearson was traveling with her parents, Sarah and Rodney Pearson, and her sister, Rachel. Most importantly, the National Transportation Safety Board excoriated Alaska Airlines decision to increase the intervals between jackscrew lubrications and wear inspections, and the FAAs approval of these intervals, which it considered to be a direct cause of the accident. She studied art in Chicago and on the East Coast before coming West. With no grease at all, the rate of wear would increase by a factor of ten or more. In hindsight, the crew should have turned around and immediately landed back in Puerto Vallarta. The entire horizontal stabilizer assembly was now attached to the airplane only by the rear hinge. Finally, at 16:19 and 21 seconds, the stop gave way with a faint thump. A former Alaska Airlines pilot will spend a year behind bars for flying intoxicated at three times over the legal limit in June 2014. Born in Hawaii, Mr. Ing grew up on Mercer Island, graduating from Mercer Island High School in 1990. After the June 2014 incident, Arntson retired from Alaska Airlines, and the Federal Aviation Administration revoked his pilots license, the US Attorneys Office said. She had gone with her family to Mexico to celebrate the birthday of her mother, Jean Permison. A big, huge plunge, thank you, said the controller. Indeed, by the end of the 1990s, what had once been a small regional carrier had successfully transformed itself into one of Americas largest airlines. Instead, all they could find was an oil slick and some light floating debris. He had treated his cousins, Avinesh Prasad and Avinesh Amit Deo, to a trip to Mexico. WebAlaska Airlines Flight 261 was a flight from Licenciado Gustavo Daz Ordaz International Airport in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico, to SeattleTacoma International Airport in Seattle, Washington, United States, with an intermediate stop at San Francisco International Airport in San Francisco, California. Ryan, who owned a commercial printing business, Copy Cat in Redmond, was an Air Force veteran who served in Vietnam. Fuck me!. WebAlaska Flight 261 Pilots Awarded ALPA Gold Medal Air Line Pilot, March 2001, p. 22 By Chris Dodd, Staff Writer Two Alaska Airlines pilots who fought until their last moments to regain control of their MD-80 despite an inoperative horizontal stabilizer have been honored with ALPAs Gold Medal for Heroism in a special ceremony in Seattle. Alaska Airlines flight AS261 crashed on January 31, 2000, about 1621 Pacific standard time, Alaska Airlines, Inc., flight AS261, a McDonnell Douglas MD-83, N963AS : it crashed into the Pacific Ocean about 2.7 miles north of Anacapa Island, California.. This was not one of those cases. This article is written without reference to and supersedes the original. Planes inverted sir, a nearby pilot told the controller. Uh, you getting full nose trim down but are you getting any you dont get no nose trim up, is that correct? maintenance asked. Not according to that its not, said Tansky. How long does it take for a potato to cook at 350? Badly shaken witnesses reported the crash to air traffic control within seconds. He then flew a plane from Portland, Oregon, to John Wayne Airport in Orange County. You did try the suitcase handles and the pickle switches, right? the maintenance technician asked. Flight 261 was traveling from Puerto Vallarta to San Francisco on Jan. 31, 2000 when a mechanical malfunction inverted the jet and sent it downward off the Ventura County coast. But they would tend to be more short-lived or there are easy ways for pilots to counteract such failures, he said. However, during the 1990s the quality of maintenance at Alaska Airlines began to slip significantly. He was traveling with William Bryant, his best friend. The last minutes of those on board the doomed MD-83 would have been sheer hell, as the plane went inverted, corkscrewed, pirouetted, and spun like a top during its final dive. She is survived by her husband of 13 years, Phil Salyer. The flight departs from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and arrives in Haines, Skip to content The NTSB report did not identify a probable cause of the crash. Toxicology results showed that Weimers blood-alcohol was 0.238. Erickson indicated that he and the pilot had been drinking alcoholic beverages, investigator Brice Banning wrote. Thorgrimson, a founding partner of a prominent Seattle-based law firm. Even though the pilots fought for control for a short period, an MD-80 will not Tom Stockley, 63, SeattleRespected wine columnist for The Seattle Times, Mr. Stockley was traveling with Peggy Stockley, his wife of 40 years. Arntson was selected for random drug and alcohol testing by Alaska Airlines at at John Wayne Airport after landing. Michael Bernard, 30, SeattleA music lover, Mr. Bernard owned four guitars and cut a compact disc of original rock songs for his parents, Paul and Irene Bernard of Kirkland. Sheri Christensen, 25, Federal WayShe grew up in Yakima, one of four children of Bob and Pat Stookey, and moved to the Seattle area with her husband, Jeff Christensen. At that moment they effectively were dead. Sarah Pearson, 36, SeattleWith her husband, Rodney Pearson, and their children, Rachel and Grace, she was vacationing with friends and Queen Anne neighbors, the Clemetsons.