Believing the aircraft unairworthy, he considered returning to Sea-Tac and diverting to McChord Air Force Base, but the buffeting worsened and the Stratocruiser began to lose altitude.
Crendo que o avión non estaba en condicións de voar considerou regresar e desviarse á base áerea de McChord, pero o movemento empeorou e o Stratocruiser comezou a perder altura.