Would you search a airliner crash site? (ethics question)

[treetop flyer]

The is a crash site very near me, 2 planes colided with a loss of life of about 85 persons. --- The crash occured 40 years ago. I know the exact spot where the plane impacted to ground. THe descent angle was about 45 degrees, so the wreckage and bodies were only spread over about a 5 acre area, and the DC 9 "pancaked" in, inverted, so there was not deep crater. . --- It is a farmfield, with corn and soy-bean rotations. This year it is corn. The plane really came apart on inpact, There are still pieces and parts of the plane surfacing every year, ( small aluminum chunks mainly) At this time, I do not have permission from to owner to search it.----- I am not even sure that I can gain permission. About 1/2 of the passengers we buried in a common grave because ID was not possible, I think only 1 body was completely intact. ---Most were many pieces, and unidentifiable. -------- It would seem to me that there would be many relics, including rings, watches, braclets, necklaces, coins, wallets, etc. still to be found. ------- I will not search in or near graveyards, I do want want to be disrespectful. I too, am a pilot, and that somehow seems to make my decision harder. My instincts are saying to forget it. That it would be wrong, ( even though I would return identifiable items to the victims families). ---------------- Would appreciate you opinions, and advice. Thanks in advance, TTF

 

[silversmith]

Why not? Would you eat the produce grown on the site? The only thing that would stop me would be if they were buried there. There's hardly a place anywhere that someone hasn't died sometime. My opinion, you're not desecrating unless some is buried there. I'm sure there will be other opinions. Good luck.

 

[SteveP(NH)]

I think I would try and get permission, but my goal would be to find identifiable stuff that could be returned to the relatives of those lost in the accident. Can you imagine how great it would be to be able to return some memento of someone lost in the crash to a surviving child or spouse? I think I would get more satisfaction out of doing something like that then finding a gold coin.

 

[BarberBill]

Considering the age of the site, I see no problem. I'd go for it if I had the opportunity.
HH
BB

 

[blacktoe]

I would. People have no problem detecting battlefields. What is the difference?

blacktoe

 

[tab-nabit]

I would - just seems like it could be interesting.

 

[tulare tokens]

If bottle diggers will dig other peoples crap up, Then hunting a site like you say would be nothing,right???
(Not trying to put that down at all)
A guy has gotta do what a guy has gotta do to find his treasures.
That's my story, and I am sticking to it!!!

Tim

P.S. Cemetery's are off limits though

 

[Elton]

You may be able to recover something identifiable and return it to a family member...

 

[Joel-Winnipeg]

It would be different if they had made the field a historic sacred site but the owner is planting crops in it so that doesn't make it a special site.
I would hunt it, not any worst that civil war sites that are being hunted now.

 

[TURNMASTER]

n/t

 

[Nick A]

I would. Age of the site is a factor, it's old enough. I would also do research on the crash and the persons who lost their lives. If I found anything identifiable that could be returned to families, I would do so. Being able to do that would make the hunt even more interesting and meaningful to me.

 

[Furious T]

I can understand your relectance and hesitation....however, if none of the victims are buried on-site, and the site itself has not been declared out of bounds for any reason, then you can probalby assume that thorough searches were done soon after the crash. As said by some of the other contributors, if you can find artifacts and return them to families, then you are probably doing a good thing. Being sensitive is the key. Sapper.