Lake Mead, NV Private Plane Crashes, Nov 1970

PLANE PLUNGES IN MEAD.

Lake Mead (UPI) -- Atomic Energy Commissioner THEOS J. THOMPSON, 52, and two other persons were killed Wednesday in the crash of a light plane into Lake Mead.
The Cessna 206 pontoon plane operated by the U.S. Park Service sank in 400 feet of water, Chief Ranger RICHARD MOHLER said. Only small pieces of floating debris remained on the surface.
The only survivor was the pilot, CHARLES ROLAND, 53, Boulder City, who was picked up by the excursion ship Echo Bay. He was in satisfactory condition.
More than four hours after the crash, a search of the waters in the area had failed to turn up the bodies of THOMSON, his aide, JACK ROSEN and BILL SMITH of Reynolds Electrical and Engineering Co. of Las Vegas.
The Atomic Energy Commission said the plane was checking seismic conditions in the Lake Mead area and that government officials frequently went on such flights.
THOMPSON, who was appointed to the AEC in 1969, arrived in Las Vegas Monday night and addressed a conference of Western state governments Tuesday. His topic was the necessity of continued underground testing, his principal concern as a commissioner.

Nevada State Journal Reno Nevada 1970-11-26
__________________

Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!