| Name | Age | Sex | Injuries | Injured areas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McCormick, Janet | Not recorded | Not recorded | Not recorded | Not recorded |
| Lilly, Larry | Not recorded | Not recorded | Not recorded | Not recorded |
| Thorne, Wes | Not recorded | Not recorded | Not recorded | Not recorded |
| Dasher, George | Not recorded | Not recorded | Not recorded | Not recorded |
On Saturday August 14, Janet McCormick, Larry Lilly, Wes Thorne and George Dasher (30) entered Organ Cave, in W. Virginia, through the main, commercial entrance, and proceeded to the Cyclop's Passage about an hour and a half, and one drop, into the cave.
They went up the Cyclop's Passage taking a few pictures. After 30 minutes travel, it appeared the passage dimensions were decreasing. They were after photos of the largest possible passage so they turned back retracing their steps through 20-30 foot high and wide trunk.
Dasher was bringing up the rear at one point, moving over the floor of breakdown and came to a short, six-foot climb-down. The top was a small rock slab that somehow didn't look stable enough to support him. The nearest alternative, he saw was twenty feet away-too far over "tedious" breakdown. The others had climbed down on the opposite side of the passage.
Dasher knelt and tested the block, then lowered a leg over the drop and retested-it seemed secure. Swinging his body over the drop he found "the rock stayed in place for about a second, then abruptly came loose."
Dasher went over backwards, the 200 pound slab right behind. Fortunately he was precipitated out far enough that the rock fell not on him, but between his feet. Unfortunately he bounced, continuing over another drop, backwards. This was frightening since he didn't know the depth of this drop. It proved to be only five feet, Dasher landing on his helmet, feet in the air. Only his tripod was damaged.
Breakdown to be used as an anchor for ropes or for the sole hand-hold in a climb must be forcefully tested at all angles. Part of the blame here must be placed on the rest of the group, however, since the last man in line will tend to feel rushed if no other group member stays with him. He will thus tend to take chances.
A caver testing a rock for stability during a climb fell when the rock came loose, but escaped injury.