A person identified as “A Bellevue Mom” on social media site SuburbanTurmoil.com praised Glenn Mull as a hero for avoiding a collision with the YMCA. The letter is printed below:
Dear Kansas friends and family of Glenn Mull,
BELLEVUE, Tenn. — I know you are shocked and grieved by the news that Glenn, his wife, daughter, and granddaughter all lost their lives in a plane crash yesterday evening in Nashville. I can imagine that it’s difficult to bear the fact that they died so far from home, among strangers.
I want you to know, though, that their plane went down in the heart of a community filled with people who shared Glenn’s obvious affinity for family. Within Nashville, Bellevue is like a small town, one that values family and relationships with others above just about everything else. Our community grieves with yours today over the loss of Glenn and his family– and we are deeply grateful for the courage and strength of Glenn Mull in his final moments.
Witnesses said that just before his plane crashed shortly before five yesterday afternoon, it banked sharply to the right, hitting a tiny patch of grass in the center of a very busy area. I want you all to know exactly what what that busy area must have looked like to Glenn Mull as he circled our neighborhood in the minutes before the crash. He had reached the most bustling section of our community at the busiest time of day. He would have seen hundreds of homes with cars in the driveway. A Kroger packed with shoppers. An assisted living community. And an enormous YMCA, where hundreds of families were streaming in and out to swim in the indoor pool, exercise, and take classes.
Glenn didn’t know this, but school was cancelled for our kids yesterday, and so a larger than usual number of them were at the Y with their parents. Some experts are saying now that the last-second sharp turn Glenn made in the seconds before the plane crashed indicates that he made a heroic decision to hit the one spot in the immediate vicinity where no one on the ground would be hurt. I, for one, believe them.
The crash site is literally a few yards from the YMCA’s indoor pool, where dozens of our children were enjoying their day off. It was right beside the Y’s new workout room, which would have been packed with moms and dads at that time of day. I know many of the people who were swimming with their children when the plane went down, or heading into the Kroger next door, or who ran outside their homes to see what the loud buzzing noise in the sky was, or whose teenage children were heading to the Y or to the church next door for basketball practice. Glenn managed to spare all of their lives.
And for that, we could not be more grateful to him.
We are all talking today about Glenn Mull, the hero, who we believe had the extraordinary courage and presence of mind to save our families, even as he realized he couldn’t save his own. We grieve with you today, but we hope you’ll take some small comfort in the fact that we here in Bellevue will never forget this husband, father and grandfather from Kansas who was able to do something that now seems nearly impossible under the circumstances. It is nothing short of a miracle that no one on the ground was hurt or killed- and we owe that miracle to God and to Glenn Mull.
Our deepest, most heartfelt sympathies go out to all of you who knew and loved him, Elaine, Amy, and Sami.
Sincerely,
A Bellevue Mom
Lindsay Ferrier
The loss and pain is still vivid, and the contributions of four Mull family members won’t soon be forgotten in Barton and Pawnee County.
The tragic loss of Glenn Mull; his wife Elaine Mull; their daughter Amy Harter; and Larned High student Samantha Harter, is a nightmare no one can comprehend.
Stan Harter, a family member, tried to put the tragedy into perspective on a Facebook entry.
“Nothing can describe the hole this day will leave in all our hearts and souls,” Harter wrote. “Please pray for my brother, Doug, as he has lost his wife and daughter, mother and father-in-law in a horrific tragedy. And for my nephew, Chase, who lost his mom, sister, and two grandparents. God bless Amy, Samantha, Elaine and Glenn.”
Kansas Republican Senator. Jerry Moran said, “My heart goes out to the entire Mull family during this difficult time. Glenn was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. Both he and his wife Elaine were well known for their generous spirit and commitment to improving Pawnee County. Glenn, Elaine, their daughter Amy and granddaughter Samantha will be greatly missed. I ask all Kansans to join me in keeping their family and friends in our thoughts and prayers during the days ahead.”
Pawnee County Attorney John Settle knew Glenn Mull as a fellow pilot.
“The tragic deaths of Glenn and Elaine Mull, their daughter Amy Harter and granddaughter Samantha are a devastating loss to our community and their many friends and family,” Settle said. “They were very involved in their church and many other community and school activities and touched numerous lives in central Kansas. They will be missed.”
Mull was the pilot of a Gulfstream 690C that crashed Monday in Bellevue, Tenn., 10 miles from the John Tune Airport in Nashville they were scheduled to land. The family was attending the 2014 Cattle Industry and National Cattlemen’s Association Trade Show at Gaylord Opryland.
The Mulls were passionate members of Grace Community Church in Great Bend, where Elaine served as chief pianist and taught two Bible study classes. The Grace Community church family will gather at some point in an informal way to share memories, according to Rev. Jay Beouy. The church family has offered prayers and help in whatever way is requested.
“They were tremendous intelligent people, very enthusiastic worshippers,” Beouy said. “Their loss will be felt in many ways. Our church family is willing and able to help their family.”
Glenn led the family’s business interests, including Mull Farms and Mid-Kansas Agri Pro. Elaine served as a secretary for the Fort Larned Historical Society, which oversees the Santa Fe Trail Center.
Bev Howell, vice president of the Fort Larned Historical Society, said Elaine and Glenn were valuable supporters of the Santa Fa Trail Center.
“Elaine and Glenn were very interested in Native American history,” Howell said. “They visited the Southwest and toured many museums all over the country and the world. Glenn had an association with a tribe in Colorado. Because of Elaine’s personal interest she became the museum’s resident Native American expert and was always able to provide extra information with staff and visitors. She even enhanced her student tours by sharing her private collection of replica Native American items.”
Howell said the Mulls appreciated Kansas history and its landmarks.
“To say the Mulls were history buffs is putting it lightly,” Howell said. “They loved all history but especially the history of this area of Kansas; the Santa Fe Trail, Pawnee Rock, natural history (flora and fauna), and definitely family history. While Elaine had the time to be more directly involved in the operations of the Santa Fe Trail Center Glenn fully supported her work and efforts.”
Howell worked at the Santa Fe Trail Center from 1998 to 2008 as education director and exhibit designer. Elaine was a member of the board of directors since 2006.
“Elaine has served faithfully on many committees and planned to serve on seven of the 12 committees this year,” Howell said. “For several years she has worked very hard as chairman of the membership committee and was a leader in all fund-raising efforts. The Trail Center is presently starting a major gallery renovation and Elaine was the primary promoter of this huge endeavor.”
Howell, a retired teacher, recruited Elaine as a volunteer in 2000 when she saw her passion for history and her affinity with children.
“It is doubtful that anyone will ever fill her shoes on the board,” Howell said.
Anna Bassford-Woods, Santa Fe Trail Center director said Elaine was an integral part of the Santa Fe Trail Center and Museum. She was active in fundraising and membership activities. She started at the museum as a volunteer for our school tours. She was known to help children relate to history and the natural resources of this area.
“Elaine was one of our key figures in our current “Go the Distance” fund drive and our membership campaign,” Bassford-Woods said. “In addition to these other duties, Elaine and her family were huge supporters of the museum and were very active in our annual Tired Iron Show event.”
Becca Hiller, Santa Fe Trail education director, said Elaine enjoyed sharing the love of history with children. Leading school tours was her favorite duty.
“She enjoyed sharing the history of the Santa Fe Trail, this region of Kansas and the history of Pawnee County,” Hiller said. “She loved teaching school age children about the natural resources of Kansas and the Plains Indians and brought many of her own items from home to enhance the tours.”
Hiller said Elaine was always looking for ways to engage more people in supporting our museum and spent untold hours working on increasing membership in the historical society.
“Her tragic loss, as well that of her husband, daughter and granddaughter will be felt for a long time to come,” Hiller said.
The Federal Aviation Administration reports the plane missed the first approach and crashed on its second approach to the airport. Air traffic control communications indicate on the first approach that the pilot, identified only by the plane’s tail number, “N840V,” was slightly off course.
“840 Victor. Yes sir, I’m showing you about a half a mile east of the final there. That’s why we were asking if you were showing yourself established on the approach,” a woman asks.
“That’s correct, I’m just a little east of course,” the pilot responds, the last communication heard.
Witnesses believe Glenn Mull preserved lives on the ground when he appeared to guide the plane in a fashion that missed a Bellevue YMCA filled with 300 people, a church, a day care, a retirement home and a church.
Witnesses say that the plane took a hard right turn before hurtling to the ground.
District Fire Chief George Hickey told WTVF, “That tells me the pilot did one hell of a job protecting lives.”
