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Hank Hughes: I was saddened to hear about Al. He was a true gentleman. I had to pleasure of working with him during the time he came out of retirement as an annuitant. He was a first class all around aviation engineering guy but more importantly he was a man of the old school. I didn't mention it but the last case Al investigated with the Board was the DC-9 Delta uncontained engine failure in Pensacola, Fl. Tom Conroy was the IIC.
Mike Marx: Al Lanoway was one of the original "tin kickers" and will be missed by all the old timers in this group. He worked along with Bob Gordon, O'Brian and Bud Laynor and another system guy (for the life of me can't remember his name) [Rich Rodriguez says it was probably Wes Cowan] that originally were supervised by Coe Anderson when I came to the Board in Oct 1969, a few years after the newly formed NTSB was still on K-Street.
It is true that Al retired and then was later hired back (working out of his home in Punta Gorda) to help out in structures when that group was placed under the Materials Laboratory Division.
Al was a meticulous report writer often to a fault but his reports were never challenged. As I recall Zakar was newly hired then and we needed Al to help break in Frank to the ways of investigating.
In 1971 Al and I worked a modified DeHavilland Dove that lost a wing in Coolidge Arizona during a commuter flight. This resuted in the NTSB recommending grounding of the airplane having those modifications. It was by far one of the most memorable investigations of my career thanks to Al for making it so.
Frank Zakar: Sad to hear the loss of Al Lanoway. I joined the Safety Board in late 1988. Frank Hilldrup also joined NTSB about the same time (maybe about a month before me). Back then, Mike Marx was the Chief of the metallurgy lab , known at TE-70. Ron Schleede was the Chief of the Aviation Accident division. Mike acquired the structures group from the aviation investigation division. Al was the sole person holding down the fort for Structures. Frank Hilldrup, and I were part of the structures group. Frank and I worked with Al for a good year (until his retirement).
Al taught me the ropes of field investigation. One of my first structures launch with Al was to investigate the crash of DC-9 airplane in Saginaw, Texas, near Carswell AFB. Bob Benzon was the IIC. Airplane took off from Carswell AFB in the evening hours, and pilot reported problems with a cargo door. The airplane was returning to the AFB when it impacted the ground. It was a smoking hole. All the wreckage was piled into one area. The investigation determined there were problems with the cargo door latch, including inspection and labeling of the door mechanism. Interesting work and Al was a great guy to worth with.
Greg Phillips: I too remember Al but was confused by his 1983 retirement date because I came to the Board in the Summer of 1988 and I definitely remember him.
I remember Al as a warm and friendly person, with a good sense of humor, and confidence in what he knew. I don't remember that we worked an accident together but I do remember several long conversations about investigating and the Board. I think Paul Baker had him apply a little wisdom to some of us who had a little more college sense than common sense (in a good way).
Like many others, I'm sad to hear of Al's passing but thankful for the memories this discussion has pulled up from the depths of my old brain cells.
Rich Rodriguez: I also worked many an accident with Al. A couple of items not mentioned/known by many are:
Al suffered a ruptured aneurism of the abdominal aorta while on an accident (somewhere in DEN area I think). He had eaten breakfast with other ASIs and went outside because he wasn't feeling well. When the others came out he was so bad they called an ambulence and took him to the hospital ER. While they were still doing their Mickey Mouse admin and triage Al told them he felt all "wet inside" (don't ask me, it's what Al told me), and somehow they got him to the OR in time to prevent him bleeding out! In one of the earliest "humanitarian actions" of the Board, we flew Caroline to wherever he was. Days later Al called his brother, on Long Island I believe, and told him that aneurisms were hereditary, and he should check for one. They found one (in the brain I think) and he had it repaired before it burst. Al was one of the retired ASIs who was re-hired during a shortage in ASIs (I believe this was in the mid-80s).
Al carpooled with me for several years, and we solved almost every world problem known to man - - - but no one would listen!!! It was their loss, even as Al's passing is a real loss to those of us who knew and respected him. Semper Fi.
Mike O’Rourke: Probably the most outstanding thing I remember about Al Lanoway was the he was Marine during WWII, and a very special one at that. I learned early on in my employment at the Board that Al and Bob Gordon, both Marines, were assigned to Carlson's Raiders, a special unit USMC unit, much like today's commandos or RECON Marines. The unit made the first U.S. assault on the Japanese held Makin Island in 1942, shortly after the start of WWII. Truly, a member of the Greatest Generation.
I went on my first accident in January 1982 with Tom McCarthy as IIC and the fearless threesome, Al, Bob Gordon, and O.B. What an education I received as well as being the newbie and being the butt of many a joke. However, when it was all over, I sure as hell learned a lot. They don't make'em like they used to.
Jack Drake: I remember Al as a structures engineer from the mid-1970s to his retirement. Walt Sweet (TE-2), Bud Laynor, and Les Kampshorr were his bosses in TE-20 (now AS-40). I recall him as a hard-working, caring, and proud man and co-worker. He assisted me with some high visibility “field” office cases. I enjoyed working with him.
Jim Wildey: I remember that for a while Al was in the Materials Lab under Mike Marx, when the Lab did aviation structures. Frank Zakar was a structures guy with Al for a while. I think Frank Hilldrup was also part of this.
Sonia Lott: I worked with Al under Bud Laynor & Walt Sweet back in the mid to late 70s. He & I have remained good friends since then. He was a wonderful, sweet man. O'Brien, Bob Gordon & Al used to carry on & argue with each other all the time and kept me laughing. One year after he retired I traveled to Florida with my husband, who was traveling for his job. Al & Caroline came up to see me for the day and took me to dinner. They lived a couple of hours away. We had a great time. He & his wife would have celebrated 57 years of marriage next month.