The Vander Meulen's pose for a family portrait in 1985 not long before a plane crash claimed the lives of Robert (top), Linda (right) and Joshua (second from left). Sisters Sarah (bottom, on Linda's lap) and Rachel (far left) have worked together to honor their family 30 years later. Contributed
Holland, Mich.
Sarah Westenbroek's life has come full circle since a plane crash 30 years ago.
On April 19, 1985, a plane crash claimed the lives of seven Holland residents — shocking the community — including Westenbroek's father, mother and big brother.
While many Holland residents still remember the tragedy, Westenbroek wanted a more permanent memorial to her parents, Bob and Linda Vander Meulen, and her brother Joshua. That memorial is Fillmore Discovery Park, a recent addition to the Outdoor Discovery Center located on land where the Vander Meulen family lived.
“So far it’s been a great place for us to go," Westenbroek said. “It’s fun to see my own kids play on the same land I played on.”
The park is a fitting tribute for her parents, who Westenbroek says were avid nature lovers who regularly went on hunting and fishing trips.
“We still have a head of a deer mounted somewhere that was one of mom’s,” said Rachel O’Banion, Westenbroek's sister.
The Vander Meulens were on their way to a fishing trip on Beaver Island when their plane encountered heavy fog and crashed. Also killed were Holland Community Hospital physicians Eli Coats and Steve Zonnebelt, local businessman Richard Wierenga and Wierenga's son, William.
Westenbroek and O’Banion, who were 3 and 5 years old at the time, were raised in Virginia by their uncle and aunt, David and Doris Vander Meulen. O’Banion has lived in St. Louis for the past nine years, while Westenbroek moved back to Holland 11 years ago to marry her husband, Ryan. The move back to Holland was when Westenbroek realized how many people were affected by and still remembered the crash. She said she was greatly impacted by how many people recognized her by knowing her parents.
“It’s been fun to be here and find connections I never knew I had,” Westenbroek said.
Westenbroek has made numerous connections since moving back. When she attended a graduation party for one of her husband’s friends, she met her mom’s best friend from high school, who told Westenbroek she looked a lot like her mother. Another person had a picture of Westenbroek and her brother, Joshua. She even found out she was attending the same church with one of her third cousins.
“I love hearing stories about my parents,” said Westenbroek. “It’s been fun being able to know and meet my parents through other people.”
Westenbroek said she has also connected with surviving family members of the other victims of the plane crash. She lives on the same street as Kim Vandenheuvel, who is the daughter of Richard Wierenga. Other surviving family members no longer live in the Holland area, but Westenbroek said they try to maintain contact with each other.
“We’re all connected by what happened and we try and stay in touch,” Westenbroek said.
Westenbroek also took an interest in the family’s old property. After the crash, the family’s property was divided; the 6-acre lot that is now Fillmore Discovery Park had been vacant since 2002 before being bought a few years ago by Fillmore Township. The township then gave control of the property to the Outdoor Discovery Center.
Westenbroek and O’Banion found that the center was planning on developing a park on the property and decided to get involved with the project.
“We were wanting it to be somewhat connected with the family,” O’Banion said.
Westenbroek said the center was very open to the Vander Meulens being a part of the park. The two sisters helped the center raise funds for the project with letter writing and talking to family and friends.
The park is now a natural playscape, with log balance beams, trees to climb on and two fishing ponds — which were dug by Bob Vander Meulen. There is also a sign at the park with a picture and the history of the old Vander Meulen home.
The Outdoor Discovery Center is planning on developing the park more.
“It’s probably phase 1 or phase 2 of a 3 to 4 phase plan,” said Travis Williams, executive director of the center. “We want to build a pavilion or a restroom. We’re open to a lot of things; we haven’t closed the book on it.”
Whatever development happens, Williams said that honoring the Vander Meulens will be a part of it.
“We’ve tried to honor them and what was there,” he said.
For the 30th anniversary this weekend, Westenbroek and O’Banion will be planting a tree at the park. Westenbroek said she feels blessed that she and others are able to enjoy the land that her parents once enjoyed.
“My life came full circle,” she said. “Born here, raised far away, and now coming back to Michigan. I’m happy to be raising my kids here.”
Original article can be found here: http://www.hollandsentinel.com
NTSB Identification: CHI85MA169
The docket is stored on NTSB microfiche number 28504.
Accident occurred Friday, April 19, 1985 in ST JAMES, MI
Aircraft: CESSNA 310R, registration: N1334G
Injuries: 7 Fatal.
NTSB investigators traveled in support of this investigation and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
DURING A NIGHT ARRIVAL, THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE HAD THE ARPT IN SIGHT & CANCELED HIS IFR FLT PLAN. A WITNESS SAW THE LIGHTS OF THE ACFT AS IT CIRCLED THE DESTINATION ARPT. HE REPORTED THE ACFT HAD TURNED LEFT TO A SOUTHERLY HEADING, & SHORTLY THEREAFTER, HE SAW A FLASH OF LIGHT. THE WITNESS WENT TO THE ARPT & OBSERVED THAT THE ARPT LIGHTING WAS ON. ALSO, HE NOTED THAT THERE WAS NO GROUND FOG & HE COULD SEE STARS OVERHEAD. A SEARCH WAS INITIATED, BUT THE ACFT WAS NOT FOUND UNTIL 0950 EST THE NEXT MORNING. THE ACFT HAD COLLIDED WITH TREES ABOUT 3000 FT SOUTHWEST OF THE WEST END OF RWY 9/27, THEN CRASHED & BURNED. INITIAL IMPACT WAS WITH A 70 FT TREE AT AN ELEVATION OF ABOUT 690 FT MSL WHILE THE ACFT WAS ON A SOUTHERLY HEADING. THE ARPT ELEVATION WAS 670 FT MSL. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. APRX 32 MI EAST AT PELLSTON, MI, THE 2150 EST WX WAS, IN PART: 5000 FT SCATTERED, 10,000 FT BROKEN, VISIBILITY 4 MI.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
PROPER ALTITUDE..NOT MAINTAINED..PILOT IN COMMAND
Contributing Factors:
LIGHT CONDITION..DARK NIGHT
DESCENT..INADVERTENT..PILOT IN COMMAND
VISUAL/AURAL PERCEPTION..PILOT IN COMMAND
OBJECT..TREE(S)
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