Flight 7 Is Missing

by Ken H. Fortenberry

  The young Crosthwaite didn’t just pass out when he fell from the burro; he was out of this world for nearly a week. Could his brain injury have been a contributory factor in a mental disorder later in his life?

  In 2003, one of the most extensive studies of the relationship between traumatic brain injuries and mental illness determined that persons with traumatic brain injuries were an astonishing 439 percent more likely to suffer from mental disorders. That study of 1.4 million Danish citizens found that traumatic brain injury victims were 65 percent more likely to develop schizophrenia, 59 percent more likely to develop depression, and 28 percent more likely to develop bipolar disorder.

  Equally interesting is the fact that most of the people in the study did not even have severe traumatic brain injuries like Crosthwaite. Many had mild concussions that required only a brief visit to the emergency room, aspirin, and bed rest.

  Something else to consider: The brain of a three-year-old is still developing. A 2006 study published in the Indian Journal of Neurotrauma gives another clue as to how Crosthwaite might have been affected by the fall from the burro: “Clinical studies clearly show the benefit of a more enriching socioeconomic environment in the recovery after pediatric TBI.”

  A small child’s hardscrabble life on an isolated Colorado farm in 1914 is not exactly an “enriching socioeconomic environment.”

  My theories about Crosthwaite made sense to me, but I needed input from an impartial outside professional, so I began researching forensic psychology, a specialty that has gained popularity in recent years primarily because of crime films and TV shows. I studied the backgrounds of numerous forensic psychologists and determined that the person I wanted to help me was Dr. Jeff Kieliszewski, a forensic psychologist in Grand Rapids, Michigan, whose expertise seemed to fit my needs.

  Dr. Kieliszewski has spent decades studying the criminal mind and is often called as an expert witness in state and federal courts. I reached out to him in the hope that he might help me make sense out of not only Crosthwaite, but also the passenger and lodge owner Payne. What I needed was his professional evaluation of their mental frames of mind at the time of the crash and their potential for sabotaging the airliner. Dr. Kieliszewski graciously agreed to take on the challenge and immediately began to delve into the backgrounds and minds of my two primary suspects.

  While Dr. Kieliszewski invested his time and expertise in developing what is called a forensic psychological autopsy, I returned to the University of Miami’s Otto Richter Library and spent two days scouring Pan Am’s records to see if I had missed anything in my two previous research visits or if any new information had been archived. I wanted to make certain that I wasn’t leaving any angle untouched. While I came up with some interesting new information, there was nothing of significant material value, and I returned home and waited for the psychologist’s reports on Crosthwaite and Payne.

  Months later, Dr. Kieliszewski’s report and professional conclusions helped me finally bring the lifelong search for my father’s killer to an end.

  In a detailed report, the psychologist outlined how he had examined the evidence and reached his conclusions.

  About Payne, he noted that there was no information that he had ever suffered from any known mental health problems and no evidence of significant medical issues.

  “Payne had interpersonal and possibly legal problems while living in California. He allegedly shot a firearm at individuals he was in conflict with on two occasions. He also had conflicts with a county government agency. Payne reportedly caused damage to public roads including the use of explosives to blow a large hole in a public road. He apparently was ordered to pay money for the damage, but he did not pay and did not show up in court.

  “There is also information in the investigation records and through collateral interviews that report Payne had significant financial difficulties just prior to the plane crash. The hunting lodge he owned and operated was up for sale and reportedly heavily mortgaged.

  “The information in the investigation records as well as collateral records describe Payne as having great affection for his wife and in a very close relationship with his mother. There is also information that Payne’s wife may have had tendencies to become involved with men outside of their marriage.

  “Information from the investigation records and information obtained through numerous collateral interviews describe Payne as an outgoing individual who often had tendencies towards being moody or a ‘hot head.’ Information provided through collateral interviews report he may have had periods where an alcohol abuse problem was operating. There is also information that describes Payne as often becoming quite jealous due to his wife’s attention from other men. Also, there is consistent information about Payne being quite close with his mother. Reportedly, Harriet and Payne’s mother did not have a good relationship. There is also information and collateral interviews that describe Payne as lacking in healthy or effective assertiveness and having difficulties coping with stressors. Information describes Payne as typically becoming easily overwhelmed with problems and deferring to his wife in order to deal with issues or stressors that arose. The information in the investigation records and collateral interviews also describe a man that oftentimes was not easy to get along with. Payne is also described as often quick to emotion and anger, particularly if stressed or overwhelmed.

  “From a historical perspective, faking one’s death in an attempt to collect insurance money was known to occur in the 1950s. Also, purchasing life insurance policies from airports prior to boarding flights was not that uncommon. One investigator presented an observation that it appears Payne organized his affairs in a manner one would expect if death in the near future was anticipated.

  “One point in theory that can be argued is that, given Payne’s circumstances, there was adequate motivation and readily available means for him to fake his death in order to obtain financial benefit as well as relieve himself of obligations. However, the question becomes whether Payne was a man of enough gumption and mental sharpness to devise and pull off a plan where he would fake his own death for financial gain,” Dr. Kieliszewski reported.

  “The available information and evidence suggest a psychological profile of an individual with deficit-coping skills, difficulties and deficits in deploying effective assertiveness, and an individual who may be prone to impulsiveness. There was also evidence to suggest an individual who may not have had the best business acumen, and in a sense, created situations for himself that led to interpersonal problems. The data does not suggest an individual with tendencies toward interpersonal or social manipulation. This is an individual who has more tendencies towards being reactive rather than scheming.”

  That made perfect sense. Everything I had learned about “mama’s boy” Payne had indicated that Harriet wore the pants in the family, and that while he sometimes often acted strangely, he seldom made major decisions on his own.

  “An important factor in analyzing Payne and his situation is his wife, Harriet. The limited data regarding Harriet’s psychological functioning suggest tendencies towards being the type of person who could be interpersonally manipulative and scheming. There’s also data that suggests she likely had some degree of manipulative power over Payne. And the theory of Payne faking his own death for financial gain would need to involve Harriet, the beneficiary.

  “In my opinion, the data does not strongly support the notion that Payne alone devised a scheme to fake his own death and could carry it out and kill dozens of other passengers in the process. Also, of note, there are very few questions about Harriet’s whereabouts and activities after the plane crash. There is established information regarding her whereabouts, interpersonal functioning and lifestyle. If Harriet mysteriously disappeared, appeared to have died in an accident, or her whereabouts were unknown after the plane crash that supposedly killed her husband this would add some credence to the theory that Payne faked his own death for financial gain and was assisted in this endeavor by
Harriet. However, another interesting theory could be that maybe Payne with the help of Harriet was in the process of planning his own fake death when he came to an untimely demise. In other words, did Payne get his affairs in order and possibly want to fake his own death when he was in Hawaii but never had the opportunity?”

  Based on what was known about Payne, Dr. Kieliszewski determined that Payne likely was not responsible for the crash of Pan Am Flight 7.

  Crosthwaite, however, was another matter entirely.

  “In regards to social history, Gene was born December 13, 1911, in Bennington, Kansas. Crosthwaite’s family history and upbringing are quite relevant. Also, many of the documented behaviors of his father are relevant as well. Crosthwaite’s father, Herb, moved the family frequently across several states while Gene was growing up. His father had successful businesses that it appeared he would abruptly sell and geographically move the family and go on to other ventures. The information obtained suggests some degree of impulsivity with his father that resulted in the entire family being uprooted frequently. Crosthwaite’s father died in May 1927 due to a construction accident. Gene was 16 years old.

  “The information indicates Crosthwaite was employed with Pan Am for several years but on several occasions was close to being fired and his union had to intervene. Some coworkers describe Crosthwaite as being very angry with his employer in general and he was viewed by some as a rather vindictive character.

  “In 1955, Crosthwaite is diagnosed with acute glossitis and underwent extensive treatment in Hong Kong. The family then returned to California. In October 1955, Crosthwaite is admitted to a sanatorium and diagnosed with active pulmonary tuberculosis. He remained in the sanatorium for approximately six months. After being discharged from the sanatorium, he was not immediately cleared for flight duty until August 1956 with the restriction that he could not fly in confined areas. Information indicates Gene was not happy with this determination and was angry Pan Am did not want him to fly due to his medical issues.

  “Crosthwaite began flight duty with restrictions towards the end of 1956. He also began flying lessons. Reportedly, Crosthwaite was treated with isoniazid and para-aminosalicylic acid as maintenance therapy to prevent reemergence of tuberculosis during this time. There is information to indicate Crosthwaite began to exhibit erratic behavior and angry outbursts. The records indicate Julia talked with Gene’s doctor about these issues and the doctor informed her it may have something to do with his medication.

  “In August 1957, Julia died in San Mateo. It was later determined she died from stomach cancer. There is information from multiple collateral sources that describe Crosthwaite as not coping well with his wife’s death. The medical examiner for Pan Am remarked that Gene was not coping well with his wife’s death and began to develop a significant fear of his tuberculosis returning. A month after Julia’s death, Crosthwaite met with an attorney to make a will.

  “In the fall of 1957, Crosthwaite began to exhibit more emotionally laden and erratic behavior. The collateral information indicates he became quite focused on trying to convince a Russian friend of his deceased wife to marry him. His relationship with Tania also began to deteriorate. Collateral sources reported he attempted to burn Tania’s adoption papers but was stopped by Julia’s mother. Reportedly, Crosthwaite made contact with a juvenile law enforcement officer to complain about Tania. The officer described his perception of Gene as psychologically unstable. In interviews, Tania described her stepfather in the weeks before his death as being quite despondent and spending hours at a time in a chair staring out the window.

  “During the week prior to the Pan Am crash, Crosthwaite exhibited more differences in his behavior. He apparently began to visit several people that he had known throughout his life. He also had an appointment with his doctor who informed him he needed to continue to take his medications to prevent his tuberculosis from reemerging. There is also information during this time that Crosthwaite became more paranoid and was convinced that Pan Am was looking to terminate him. There also is a report from a collateral source (his stepfather-in-law) that Crosthwaite showed him some type of explosive powder.

  “Tania described her perception of Crosthwaite’s temperament and character as changing over the years she knew him. She claims she observed a difference after his bout with tuberculosis. She described him as being much more angry and moody after his tuberculosis. She said there were even instances where Gene and Julia had physical altercations. Tania explained that her mother would be aggressive with Gene as they would fight over his alcohol abuse. There is also a report from Tania that Crosthwaite told her in the weeks prior to his death that some type of ‘shock’ would be coming soon.

  “After the Pan Am Flight 7 crash, Crosthwaite’s body was discovered. His car was parked at the airport. His newly drafted will was in the glove compartment. Also, his and Julia’s wedding rings were found in a safety deposit box, wrapped in one of Gene’s necklaces.”

  Dr. Kieliszewski’s report was detailed but focused a great deal on information I already knew. What I was most eager to learn was his professional opinion about the possibility of Crosthwaite being a suicidal murderer.

  A few paragraphs later he gave me the answers.

  “Crosthwaite’s family history, consistent information from various collateral sources, and the investigation records suggest a remarkable clinical picture. His family history suggests Gene’s father, Herb, may have had mental health difficulties. The reported history suggests an individual who may have had some issues with mood disturbance, impulsivity, and a somewhat erratic approach to life. Mental health conditions manifested in these types of behaviors can be inherited or passed down to children.

  “There is a lot of evidence to suggest that Crosthwaite himself suffered from some level of mood disturbance. He had some long-standing patterns of a problematic behavior at work that resulted in a downturn in his upward occupational mobility a few years after being hired at Pan Am. There is also further evidence from multiple collateral sources and investigation records that Gene’s mental status deteriorated more after his diagnosis and treatment for tuberculosis. He also maintained a medication regimen to prevent reemergence of tuberculosis. One of the medications (isoniazid) is associated with mental status disturbance as a side effect. There is also evidence from multiple collateral sources that suggest Gene’s mental health further deteriorated after his wife’s death,” the psychologist reported.

  “One theory concerning Crosthwaite’s potential involvement in the crash of Pan Am Flight 7 is that he orchestrated a suicide by sabotaging the plane that also resulted in the deaths of 43 other people. In my opinion, the evidence is overwhelming that Gene suffered from mental illness and exacerbated mental status decompensation in the months prior to the airliner crash. The data would suggest his mood disturbance was acutely active and directly impacting his behavior. Just prior to the airliner crash, Gene was also acting in a manner that would be consistent with an individual who is contemplating or planning their own death. He got his affairs in order and for no other known reason, made a will. He also used this opportunity to make a will to play out some hostilities towards his stepdaughter. Gene also began to visit old friends in a rather unusual manner. It is also significant and of note that Gene put his and his wife’s wedding rings together and in a safe place.

  “At the time of Crosthwaite’s death, he was 46 years old, had recently lost his wife to illness, was coping with the effects of a chronic severe disease himself that had killed relatives in the past, and demonstrated an exacerbation of a likely long-held mood disturbance. Frankly, these factors would support the notion that he could have indeed become suicidal and took steps to produce his own demise. The data would support a notion that Gene had lost reasons to live. The data support that Gene could have easily developed a sound motivation to end his life.

  “Also of note, if Gene indeed ended his life by sabotaging Pan Am Flight 7, he would not only kill himself but also attempt t
o inflict some type of retribution on his employer, Pan Am, by orchestrating a crash that took multiple lives, potentially to the embarrassment of his employer. Given his increasing aggression and anger, along with the mood disturbance towards the end of his life, committing suicide in this fashion would fit the clinical picture,” the psychologist determined.

  “Another question involves whether or not Crosthwaite had the means to sabotage an airliner in order for it to crash. Given he had worked in various capacities within the airline industry for 17 years, it is very plausible he had special knowledge and the potential requisite knowledge in order to know how to effectively sabotage a plane and orchestrate a plane crash.”

  Dr. Kieliszewski pointed out that psychological autopsies are “limited and do not produce unequivocal answers to questions about an individual or a situation. However, it is a powerful tool to help understand an individual’s frame of mind at the time of an event.”

  He also stated that “because the cause of the crash of Pan Am Flight 7 was never determined, there is a relevant and arguable theory that this particular airliner was suspect to technological difficulties that could result in a crash similar to what we know about this tragedy.”

  Point well-taken. Stratocruisers had flown hundreds of thousands of miles with no issues, but the airplanes did crash, and when they crashed the results often were fatal.

  Dr. Kieliszewski then turned his attention to the possibility of human involvement in the crash of Romance of the Skies, the angle I had been working on for most of my life, the angle that I believed federal investigators should have devoted more time and resources to back in 1957.