La Crescenta- Kenneth Apperson, 20 of 247 South Avenue 54, Los Angeles, a student pilot, was killed last night when his two seater training ship crashed near Sister Elsie Peak, two and a half miles north of Pennsylvania and Bissel Avenues.
The area was heavily shrouded in fog when the plane crashed shortly after 6:00 p. m., Montrose Sheriff's deputies report, and this may have been the cause of the accident.
Glenn Fogg of 4407 Dunsmore Avenue saw the plane go down and called the Sheriff's Station.
Led by Sgt. M. McDaniel of the Sheriff's Aero Squadron a rescue crew composed of the Sheriffs Mounted Posse and auxiliary deputies from Montrose immediately went to the scene of the crash.
Force of the crash hampered the rescuers, who had to get bolt cutters and other equipment to cut through the wrecked plane to Apperson's body.
Communication was maintained by Crescenta Valley Emergency network an organization of radio "hams." The searchers were coordinated by Deputy Virgil Piper. Members of the Crescenta Valley Branch of the Red Cross and Valley Ambulance Company also stood by to Aid.
Apperson's mother, Mrs. Belza Apperson collapsed when she heard the news of her son's death.
Los Angeles Times, Wednesday October 20th, 1948
The Pilot of a two-place training plane was killed yesterday in a crash against Sister Elsie Peak, above La Crescenta, Sheriff's deputies reported.
He was identified as Kenneth Roy Apperson, 20, of 247 S Ave 54.
The youth's mother, Mrs. Belza Apperson, collapsed when she heard the news, officers said. Emergency treatment was given by an ambulance crew sent from Lincoln Heights Hospital. Mrs. Apperson was given a sedative and remained home.
The wreckage which contained the body was found after a fog-hampered search of three hours. The searching party was led by deputies from the Montrose substation. They were equipped with three walkie-talkies, a jeep and portable searchlights.
Assisting were members of the Sheriff's auxiliary and the Crescenta Valley Emergency Network, and organization of radio "hams" The searchers were co-ordinated by Dep. Virgil Piper.