The airport and Wylie Apte played a role in several search and rescue efforts over the years , flying missions for the forest fire patrol , lost persons , drowning accidents , hospital patients , and the Northeast airline tragedy . Some of the more notable early search and rescue efforts from the White Mountain Airport included the following : In June 1933 Joseph Simon , a young man from Brookline , Massachusetts , was lost while hiking with friends to the Lakes of the Clouds on Mount Washington . The group had not prepared themselves with food or supplies appropriate for the hike and were separated as the weather turned bad . Wylie Apte conducted an aerial search for Mr. Simon flying low over the wooded terrain in dangerous air currents over Mount Washington for two days . Ultimately , Mr. Simon was found , but had died due to exposure
Northeast airline tragedy
Northeast Airlines Flight 946
White Mountain Airport (New Hampshire)