No injured cavers recorded.
On March 16, Marshall Homes, Jimmy Lynn, and George Dasher (27) were surveying in Patton Cave in West Virginia. They surveyed the Backdoor Entrance pit and then headed toward the Football Field. Just west of the Helter Skelter Room they spent some time mapping leads below the breakdown which Homes had already scouted. On the third lead Dasher was in front doing lead chain and keeping book. At a junction Homes couldn't remember which direction was best so Dasher chimneyed up to look over a breakdown block. He was trying to keep a clean book and so tried to climb using his hands as little as possible. He was about 10 feet above the floor and moving one foot when the other foothold broke. Since his hands were not in use, Dasher fell to the floor, landing on a muddy spot, the only place not covered by jagged breakdown. Dasher had the wind knocked out of him but was otherwise unhurt.
Analysis: The desire to keep a clean book shouldn't compromise safety. It turned out that it was possible to proceed under the rock.