Dear Sir,

I am writing in response to your written request for additional information about my recent accident. In block No. 3 of the accident reporting form, I put "Poor Planning" as the cause of the accident. You stated in your letter that I should explain more fully; I trust the following details will be sufficient.

I am an amateur radio operator. On the day of the accident, I was working alone on the top section of my new 80-foot tower antenna. When I had completed my work, I discovered that I had, over the course of several trips up the tower, brought up about 300 pounds of tools and hardware. Rather than carry the now uneeded tools and hardware down the tower in several trips by hand, I decided to lower the items in a small barrel by using a pulley which, fortunately, was attached to the gin pole at the top of the tower. Securing the rope at the ground level, I went up to the top of the tower and loaded the tools and hardware into the barrel. I then proceeded back to the ground and untied the rope, holding tightly to insure a slow descent of the 300 pounds of tools and hardware. You will please note block No. 11 of the accident reporting form where I entered my weight as being 155 pounds. Due to my absolute surprise at being so abruptly jerked off the ground, I lost my presence of mind and I forgot to let go of the rope. Needless to say, I proceeded at a rather rapid rate up the side of the tower. In the vicinity of the 40-foot level I met the barrel, which was coming down. I trust this will explain my fractured skull and broken collarbone. Slowed only but slightly, I continued my rapid accent, not stopping until the fingers of my right hand were knuckles deep into the pulley. Fortunately, by this time, I had regained my presence of mind and was able to hold tightly to the rope in spite of my pain. At approximately the same time, however, the barrel impacted the ground, and the bottom fell out of the barrel. Devoid of the weight of the tools and hardware, the barrel now weighed 20 pounds. I refer you, again, to my weight in block No. 11. As you might imagine, I began an extremely rapid descent down the side of the tower. In the vicinity of the 40 foot level, I again met the barrel, which was now coming up. This will account for the two fractured ankles and multiple lacerations of my lower body. The second encounter with the barrel slowed my descent enough to lessen my injuries when I next fell on the pile of tools and hardware. Fortunately only three vertebrae were cracked. However, I am sorry to report that while in pain, unable to move, and watching the empty barrel 80 feet above me, I again lost my presence of mind and let go of the rope.