DALE WELLING 1948 - 1980 PILOT SLC DEN April 21, 1957. Phoenix, Arizona, Frontier Airlines Flight 7. On Sunday, April 21, just 55 miles north of Phoenix about 12 ft. of the left wing was left on the rocky crags of New River Mountains when the Sunliner hit a down draft. Carrying twenty-three passengers and its crew, Captain Welling landed the plane safely in Phoenix. Crew; Captain Dale Welling, Co-pilot Herman Wrasse, Stewardess Donna Bailey. -Sunliner News, April, 1957, Vol. 6 - No. 4 Got emails from both of Capt Dale Wellings' daughters. He was the pilot on the PRCPHX flt on Easter 1957 that clipped the mountain and all survived uninjured. They were both pretty tickled to find the magazine article posted on the web. Unfortunately Capt Welling passed away in 1998. Have invited both ladies into our group. -Chuck Tisckos (3-2-99) Everybody knew Dale Welling, the PHX story and of course the cockpit door rope, first time I saw that I said 'What the hell is this' Dale gave me a courteous explanation and I told him when he wears that one out I will get him a new one from stock. What a guy ! -Jim Taylor (3/3/99) I heard from Dale Welling's daughter. Here are his dates. Birthday was August 22, 1921. He passed away January 27,1998. -Chuck Tisckos (3-18-99) "Suicidal" DC-3 I uploaded a shot I have of N-65276 in front of the PHX terminal. I should mention that I referred to it as "Suicidal" as it had been involved in THREE accidents at its demise December 21, 1967. The first time it crashed was in SLC as a Challenger airplane with Bill McChrystal as captain and EP Lietz as the f/o. They were on an emergency approach with a medical trauma in progress. The weather was lousy and as they landed the wind changed and it was a slick runway. They ran off the end and hit a car. The only injury was a lady in the car. Later, Dale Welling knocked 12 feet of the left wing off on a hill north of PHX when he was skud running inbound from Prescott (PRC). The last was when Rocky Crane and Rick Cochran were killed and the aircraft destroyed on take-off December 21, 1967. The seats had been removed to use the aircraft to relieve a heavy back up of cargo. FAL was not approved for this. It was a blustry day and someone improperly installed a rudder lock on the elevator (allowing some control movement). Then on lift off, a heavy 55 gallon drum of paint broke loose and headed for the tail end. The change of center of gravity coupled with the loss of full elevator control prevented the rew from saving the airplane. They had, apparently, quickly, realized this as they repositioned the trim in the opposite of normal trim to get the nose of the aircraft down. Alais, it was not enough. The airplane stalled, crashed and burned. -Billy Walker (Jan 23 1999) Thought you might get a "kick" out of a special event I had with Dale. I was in the process of transferring from SLC to PHX early 1956. My wife was expecting (overdue) and I was having her fly to PHX rather than drive all that way with me. Had a Doctor's release by the way. Dale came in the operations romm ans said something to the effect "....some guy's got his wife flying and she's big as a barn and ready to pop"! I walked up and said "...Dale that's my wife and she's on your airplane going to PHX, she's being met in FMN by her mother and they will travel together on to PHX". I thought Dale was going to blow a fuse. He said "...I am not going to be a mid-wife over Duchene (sp?) Intersection! Long story short , he called in several times letting us know he was flying around every thunderhead. He later chided me and said "that was the longest flight I ever took, don't you ever do that again!" I was Manager at FLG the day he flew into the mountain between PRC and PHX. It was an eventful day listening on the radio! -Kerry Allen (1/27/07) My name is Vicki Welling Johnston, Dale Welling's oldest daughter. I've been reading the articles and stories you have printed about my dad and am so appreciative of your memories. I've had a lot of chuckles from them and remember a lot more I've heard over the years. He was quite a guy, a lot of fun as a father and we miss him dearly!! I was just 12 years old when the accident happened but remember it well. Mom kept a scrapbook of articles, pictures etc. which we still have if anyone is interested. I'm amazed that anyone has taken the time and made such an effort to retrieve the wing after all these years. Thank you!! He loved flying and would be honored for the plane to be remembered in such a way. He loved that DC-3. -Vicki Welling Johnston (6/30/07) I've added your note to your dad's memorial webpage at http://Lamkins.tripod.com/Dale_Welling.txt I would like to upgrade his webpage with a nice photo. If you could email one, I'll take care of it. -Jake Lamkins (6/30/07) I've contacted my sister who has the scrapbook and hopefully we can find pics you don't already have. Do you want one of Dad too or just the plane? -Vicki Welling Johnston (7/1/07) I need a photo of your dad. Take a look at the memorial webpages at http://FAL-1.tripod.com/Pilots.html and look at some with photos. That's what I need for your dad. -Jake Lamkins (7/1/07) OK......we'll see what we can come up with... -Vicki Welling Johnston (7/1/07) Enclosed is the obituary for Dale Wessing which I finally found and sending as I don't remember seeing his name in "those gone west." -Bob Malody (5/19/08) D R WELLING Pilot seniority date of 7/10/48, #48, on the 9/1/55 FL/ALPA seniority list and #39 on the 9/1/72 list. Not on the 9/1/81 list. Could not find anything in the 1980 or 1981 FL NEWS files about his retirement. -Jake Lamkins (5/24/08) Posted at the FL Club: Subject: Updated memorial website Dale Welling, 1948-198?, DEN pilot http://FAL-1.tripod.com/Dale_Welling.html Does anyone know when Dale retired? -Jake Lamkins (5/25/08) Dad retired in 1980. I don't remember the exact month but could probably find it in our boxes of his flight "stuff" if its important. We still have all his log books etc. Thank you again for the Website and the walk down memory lane with my totally fun and unpredictable DAD. He was the best and we all (children and grandchildren) still talk about all the funny things he did on a regular basis and how much he loved his family. We miss him dearly! -Vicki Welling Johnston (5/25/08) Dale is listed as a SLC first officer in the 7/15/48 Challenger Airlines Employees Directory. -Jake Lamkins (3/31/11) Posted at the FL Club: DALE WELLING 1948 - 1980 PILOT DEN http://FAL-1.tripod.com/Dale_Welling.html I found new items for Dale. Post your remembrances. -Jake Lamkins (3/31/11) FLacebook req to join My father Dale Welling worked for Frontier Airlines becoming a captain in 1951. He retired in about 1985. I spent my early life traveling on Frontier and knew many people from that time with the airlines. This pic was my dad in the 50s I think when he became a captain. But in 1957 on Easter Sunday, his DC3 got caught in a downdraft and took off part of the wing on Bradshaw mountain near Prescott, AZ. Thank goodness he and his co-pilot, Wrasse, brought it in to Sky Harbor with no casualties. He later (after the review) got a gold watch from Barry Goldwater for being a "Hero". -Sheri Welling Sense (3/27/20) Shirley Mitchell I actually lived near Bradshaw Mountain for 23 years. We left Denver in 1984. Thank goodness your Dad was a great pilot. Jake Lamkins It was in Apr 1957. http://FAL-1.tripod.com/FL_Crash.html Janice Gassett Sheri Welling Sense what a great story...thank you. (3/27/20) Ginger Treptow Welcome Sheri, your Dad was very Special and had a great laugh and a welcome smile. Sheri Welling Sense You KNEW my dad? That makes my day!! I didn’t think there was anyone around who still remembered him. He was a wonderful & funny man. I remember him closing himself off in his office to study up for his (yearly??) tests to keep his license. He always said he didn’t allow himself to miss one question as when he’s in the air that one wrong answer could make all the difference. Jake Lamkins Hi Sheri, Can you send me a copy of this pic of your dad that you posted? I would like a copy without the white sign. I want to use it on his memorial webpage at http://FAL-1.tripod.com/Dale_Welling.html (3/28/20) Sheri Welling Sense Sorry... I don't have original. the only pic I have is this one with the white sign my sister put on it then copied for us all. I edited it out. The middle pic is of him at 22 years old flying in the navy. The last pic is after he retired and playing golf. He was a lifelong (well since his navy years) smoker and passed away from emphysema at 76. We miss him every day. (3/29/20) FLacebook - FL Club Memorial Webpage Update DALE WELLING 1948 - 1980 PILOT SLC DEN Several photos added and others photo-edited. -Jake Lamkins (4/30/20)