Plane crash victim returns to St. Louis to recuperate

A Eureka youth who survived a June 26 plane crash in Lakeview, Ark., was driven by ambulance back to St. Louis on July 8. Joshua Beckerle, 15, now is recuperating at St. John’s Rehabilitation Center in Chesterfield.

His father, Don Beckerle, 43, said that Joshua underwent surgery on June 30 for his facial injuries, which included damage to an eye socket, cheek bone, top of his nose and jaw.

“Technically he was kept in a coma due to heavy sedation, but there did not appear to be a great deal of brain swelling,” Beckerle said. “The surgeon inserted five plates to repair the facial bones, but said the procedure went exactly as planned.”

Joshua suffered severe head trauma and some internal injuries during the crash, with the left side of his body more heavily affected. He has fought a low-grade fever fairly consistently since the accident.

The elder Beckerle received minor injuries during the crash. The pilot, Warren W. “Rocky” Langford, 52; his son, Brendan Langford, 15, of Chesterfield; and Jacob Ritz, 15, of Bridgeton; all died as a result of the accident.

Don Beckerle said he still is dealing with the reality of a tragic ending to what was a blissful fishing trip.

“I was blessed to be able to spend an incredible few days with Rocky, Brendan, Jake and Joshua,” Beckerle said. “They were the finest young men I have had the pleasure to be with. We surely will miss them, but they will be with us forever. I know that Rocky, Brendan and Jake are in heaven now, praying to God to let Josh stay with us for a while longer.”

On July 1, Joshua remained stable at a hospital in Springfield, Mo., and began some physical therapy. By July 2, he was breathing better, was more responsive overall but continued to need pain relief from the surgery, Beckerle said. Although Joshua did start to develop pneumonia, he was squeezing hands on demand and nodding responses to questions. By July 3, Joshua was taken off a ventilator and was more fully participating in physical therapy, Beckerle said. On the Fourth of July, Beckerle said Joshua’s mind continued to grow more aware, and he was trying to figure out what had happened and what was happening. He also began to see a speech therapist that day. A CT scan that day revealed that Joshua’s spleen was healing.

“The Fourth was an amazing day,” Beckerle said. “We saw Josh walk with the help of his physical therapist. He was told of the accident that day and about his friends. He has a vague memory of the trip, but said it's all a blur. He was very restless and struggling with the loss of his friends, but I told him let God slowly heal his body.”  

By July 5, Joshua was moved out of the intensive care unit. On July 7, Joshua was getting stronger but still on oxygen and a feeding tube, his mother, Sherry, said. But she said he attempted to check his Facebook profile for the first time since the accident.

The Beckerles shared that everyone has been wonderful and that they cannot express how much they appreciate the kind words, prayers and thoughts they have received.

Joshua received an interesting gift just after arriving back in St. Louis. It was a personal letter from Archbishop Robert Carlson, which included the papal rosary that Pope Benedict XVI personally blessed for Josh on June 30, Beckerle said.

Arnold Scott, senior National Transportation Safety Board air safety inspector and lead investigator for the June 26 accident, recently submitted a preliminary report about the accident. It indicated the plane was “destroyed when it struck a tree at 9:04 a.m. and impacted terrain shortly after takeoff from the Gaston’s Air Strip.”

Scott said one witness videotaped the take-off from the 3,200-foot grass air strip. Other witnesses said after the airplane lifted off, it disappeared below the airport into a shallow valley. When it reappeared in a slight climb, the wings were "wig-wagging" and the airplane was "porpoising." 

Witnesses fishing on the nearby White River heard the impact and called 9-1-1, according to Scott’s report.

“They described the weather as being hot, hazy, and muggy,” Scott said.

Scott is expected to submit a more detailed report within the next six months.