Falling Through Clouds: A Story of Survival, Love, and Liability

by Damian Fowler

"Mommy burned up."On a cloudy day in August 2003, Grace and Lily Pearson, 4 and 3, were flying in their uncle's plane along with their mother on their way to their grandpa's birthday party near Lake Superior, when Lily noticed the trees out the window were growing close; so close she could almost touch them. Before the trees tore into the cabin, Grace had the strange sensation of falling through clouds.A story of tragedy, survival, and justice, Damian Fowler's Falling Through Clouds is about a young father's fight for his family in the wake of a plane crash that killed his wife, badly injured his two daughters, and thrust him into a David-vs-Goliath legal confrontation with a multi-billion dollar insurance company. Blindsided when he was sued in federal court by this insurance company, Toby Pearson made it his mission to change aviation insurance law in his home state and nationally, while nursing his daughters to recovery and recreating his own life. Falling Through Clouds charts the dramatic journey of a man who turned a personal tragedy into an important victory for himself, his girls, and many other Americans.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography

290 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

"Falling Through Clouds— A Story of Survival, Love, and Liability" is a nonfiction narrative published by St. Martin’s Press in April 2014. It’s the true story of a young father’s fight to survive the devastating effects of a small plane crash that killed his wife, badly injured his two daughters and thrust him into a David-vs-Goliath legal confrontation with a multi-billion dollar insurance company.

I grew up in York, England, and graduated from St. Hugh's College, Oxford where I studied English Literature. I then moved to New York City, realised I wanted to become a journalist, and eventually earned a masters from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism. Since 1998, I've been fortunate to report widely on many aspects of American culture. I worked for over a decade as a New York-based reporter and producer for the BBC, covering many significant stories including the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the Northeast blackout of 2003, the trial of Michael Jackson, and three presidential elections.

I continue to work as a freelance contributor to major media outlets on both sides of the Atlantic including the BBC, The Guardian newspaper, Listen: Life with Classical Music, and Vanity Fair. Lately, I’ve focused on the classical arts and culture, as well as compelling human interest stories.

Photo by Ivan Nikolov

Reviews

[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Appreciated Fowler's obvious extensive research and his informative storytelling style, weaving history and background into the Pearson family's personal experience. In particular, I learned a lot about aviation law and burn treatment. The book dragged out for me towards the end and I lost some emotional connection that I felt in the beginning of the book.

[Lisa Carlson · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a long time resident of Minnesota and a lover of all that is the North Shore; this story was easy to visualize in many ways. Journalist Damian Fowler gives the reader a complete picture of this family's personal tragedy; a plane crash in Northern Minnesota in 2003. There are many details here which may dilute a reader's attention; legal and personal. We have a tendency in America to over share on just about everything. I'm not sure if it all needs to be aired because there is a beautiful elegance in privacy. The real message here is despite loss, despite hardship the human spirit is a force to be reckoned with. Clearly, the two young female survivors of this event capture our hearts because they are children and through their eyes we only receive a decadent honesty.

[Olya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book in a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.

I'm glad I got the chance to read an advanced copy of this book. It is very well written and well researched, and the author uses many different perspectives to tell this story of resilience after a plane tragedy. It was incredible to read how Toby Pearson held himself together for his daughters and was also able to significantly influence aviation law. The author easily explains complicated topics involving the small plane tragedy, including the girls' injuries, legislation, and insurance. I was amazed how a book involving a horrific tragedy portrayed so much hope. I would definitely recommend it.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book through the goodreads giveaway. It tells the true story of a small airplane crash which claimed the lives of the pilot and his adult passenger, his sister-in-law, and left her 2 small children seriously injured. The father of the 2 children must quickly deal with the mounting cost of medical bills and the eventual realization that he will face a David vs. Goliath legal battle when his insurance company sues him. The title of the book really captures the essence of the whole story: survival, love and liability. The story is at times both heart-wrenching and infuriating.

[Kasey · Rating 4 out of 5]

We'll-written, sensitive, thorough. Tells the story of this small plane tragedy from many perspectives, and gives good background on the issues involved with small plane (general aviation) insurance, accidents, fatalities, injuries, regulation, and legislation. A surprisingly fast read. More hopeful than the subject matter would lead you to believe

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Getting back to reading since the kids are bigger now...I received this book from a giveaway and never once thought I would enjoy it as much as I did...This is truly a book that is a must read, beautifully written, it tells a tragic yet powerful story...I was unable to walk away from it...

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Falling Through Clouds" is, at its heart, a compelling story of love, survival and resilience--with a bit of "David and Goliath" legal battle thrown in for good measure. Above all, this is a true, real story--and I know that for a fact because I know the main character of this book, Toby Pearson. (He was a year behind me in high school, and his older brother was a classmate of mine.) Tragically, Pearson's wife was killed in a small-plane crash north of Grand Marais, Minn., in August 2003. His two young daughters (Lily, then 3, and Grace, then 4-nearly-5) somehow survived the crash but were critically injured/burned. Their survival was a miracle, but the loss of their mother/Toby's wife was still difficult to process. An uncle was the plane's pilot, and he was also killed. Read this to learn how Toby Pearson manages to nurse his daughters back to health (both physically and psychologically), navigate the health care system, change jobs/cities/homes in order to accommodate his daughters' health care needs, find love once again and conquer a corporate insurance giant that seemed further bent on destroying his family's future hopes even further.

[SouthWestZippy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Taken from the back of the book. " On a cloudy day in August 2003, Grace and Lily Pearson, four and three, were flying in their uncle's plane along with their mother on their way to their grandpa's birthday party near Lake Superior, when Lily noticed the trees out the window where growing close; so close she could almost touch them. Before the trees tore into the cabin, Grace had the strange sensation of falling through clouds."
Grace and Lily Pearson's Mother Kathryn did not make it nor did their Uncle Charlie. Their Father Toby were left to deal with aftermath and the care of the two very young girls medical needs and Aunt Carolyn(Kathryn's Sister) dealing with the death of her husband Charlie.
The beginning of the book pulled me into this heartbreaking story and had me on the verge of tears. The description of the crash and the girls clam demeanor was such a contrast that it was almost surreal for me to read, I can just imagine what the rescuers were feeling. The rest of the book lost that pulling you in and making you feel it feeling when it went into the Medical, insurance and court details. Still a good book and I liked Damian Fowler writing style.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

On a cloudy day in 2003 a small, private plane went down near Grand Marais, Minnesota, killing the pilot and his sister-in-law, and severely burning her three- and four-year-old daughters. This is the story of the crash and how it changed the life of the widower left to raise the two little girls.

The liability in the subtitle refers to the widower's struggle with the pilot's insurance company and his efforts to get legislation passed to provide for innocent victims of aviation accidents.

The author does a good job of presenting both the people involved and some of the intricacies of aviation liability and regulation. He is admirably thorough about providing notes and sources.

One thing this book didn't do is make me want to ever travel in a small plane.

[Carey · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read. I barely remember the accident happening, hearing about the little girls that were found in the woods was really the only thing that stuck with me from 14 years ago. I'm from the area so it's funny to hear how an author describes the area for those that don't know it. It was an interesting book but much more about the legal and political struggles Toby went through in his fight with the insurance company and less about the girls' and the family's recovery and grief. The legal jardon, pilot/flight rules and regulations got a little thick at times and I found myself skimming it.

[Claudette Guay · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a lesson what this man had to go through to win his case concerning the insurance . He was persistent in having the best possible care for his two daughters. Fast reading.

[I Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

A departure from my usual genres of choice, but very good.

[Ck442000 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to read this book because it was about a family I knew. The story was heartbreaking yet so uplifting because of the survival of these 2 children and their amazing dad.

[Sandra McGillivray · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the storyline and the emotional true story behind it but wasn't fond of all the technical and statistics relating to airplane crashes.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The subtitle says it all: "A story of survival, Love and Liability." When Toby Pearson lost his wife and brother-in-law in a small plane crash and spent many years dealing with all of the trauma and pain involved in burn recovery with his two small daughters, his world truly seemed to come to an end. This book does justice to all aspects of those years; the initial mixed feelings of grief for his wife and the happiness that his daughters survived, the many years of surgeries and tedious, painstaking daily care of the girls' burns and--interestingly--the battle with his insurance company who not only denied his claim but sued HIM. The fact that Toby was so honest about his feelings allowed the author to fully expose all the elements of this painful story. I highly recommend it if you are looking for a true, inspirational story.

[Randy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first encountered the story of the Pearson family years ago while staying at Y Camp DuNord and the girls were at Burn Camp. Later, I had the privilege of engaging with Toby and Katy as part of Camp DuNord's Community Board. I knew of this book shortly after it was published and put it on my goodreads "to-read" list. I was at the Ramsey County Library and it happened to be checked in. Having several books going at the same time, I was a bit hesitant about adding one, especially with a due date. I needed not worry about the due date because I read the book with increased interest and intensity.

It is a story of the accident, yes, but includes the struggles with health insurance, liability insurance, litigation, physics of plane crashes, state laws (e.g. MN, IA), federal law (e.g. assistance from state Representative Jim Oberstar), burn treatments physically and emotionally, support groups, and family healing.

The intriguing twist to the whole story had to do with the pilot's liability insurance. The company canceled the policy AFTER the accident and refused to pay anything due to an error on the application form. There were so many things wrong, e.g. lack of insurance industry oversight due to strong influence in Republican Congress, high costs of insurance where the pilot may choose to "wing it", at the time lifetime max limits on health insurance payouts, preexisting conditions for health insurance severely limiting health insurance for the long range future, and counter suits by the health insurance company to recover payouts once the liability gets settled, possibly exceeding the liability payout.

If corporations would act sensibly and morally, we may not need the regulations and laws, but that is not the case. I will pass on the soapbox opportunity here but know it bothers me greatly.

The author mentions the Paul Wellstone plane crash a year earlier. I remember the day this tragedy happened on October 25, 2002. Earlier this year, I visited the memorial site for Paul, his wife, and others near Eveleth, Minnesota. Such a sudden twist to the political, economic, and family scene to have this happen.

The account by Damian Fowler was excellent, providing just enough detail throughout to get the picture and I highly recommend the book.

[Richard Kuhn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would most definitely rate this a 3 and a half stars. The beginning chapters had me engrossed as the author got into the characters and plot. I believe the narrative employed by Fowler when describing the airplane crash is nothing short of sensational. I got the picture built in my mind about crashing from the sky and the after effects. By the way, perhaps not the best book to read when travelling as much as I am on planes lately.

Here is where in my opinion the book somewhat starts to languish in the library shelves of oblivion. In what I believe to show victory and be somewhat an inspiration to the books readers, Fowler drifts off into a political fight about pilot liability insurance. It's true that the main character had a legitimate complaint, but not strong enough one to motivate me to read an entire second half of the book to find out it's result in the Minnesota Statehouse. I believe the appeal of the book is following how innocent children miraculously survived not only the plane crash and it's life altering effects, but how they view them. When the book stays on course, it's a good read. When it strays from the story, it's not so good.

The author is no Laura Hillenbrand or Mitch Zuchoff, but Fowler is capable of telling a great story and his talent is evident. Depending on what you hope to get out of the book, this one is worth the investment. Just know what it is before you buy the book.

[Gillian Baigorri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the publisher as a Goodreads First Reads giveaway. I was not compensated in any way. This review is based on my own, honest opinion of the book.

I was really excited when I found out I would be receiving a copy of this book through First Reads, and for the first half of the book I really enjoyed reading it. The story itself is heart-wrenching and has you rooting for the father on his quest to get the aviation insurance laws changed. The author is very effective at showing the courage of the two little girls who survived the plane crash and the resiliency of a family that pulls together in a time of crisis. Where this book lost me was on the level of detail it got into when it came to the actual process of getting the law changed. It was a bit too technical and full of legal language, which caused my attention to drift through the middle of the book.

Overall I did enjoy this book and would recommend it, especially to those who have an interest in insurance law. If there were half stars available on Goodreads I would have rated this three and a half stars.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gripping account of a family ripped apart by an aviation tragedy and their long-term struggles with the pilot's insurance company. I have no fear of commercial aircraft but after reading this will avoid general aviation at all costs. The contrasting accident and fatality statistics are bleak. But I digress... The point of the story was to highlight the lack of mandatory liability insurance for general aviation. It boggles the mind. Consider this: you cannot drive your car to a private airstrip without third-party liability but you can jump in your plane and cruise over a city center without any coverage. Imagine a plane crashing into your house and your only option is to sure the estate of the dead pilot? Good luck. In any event, this is the backdrop for a father's courageous fight to secure payment from a billion dollar insurance company in the wake of a crash that killed his wife and left his two young daughters badly burned. Facing staggering medical bills and a company's assertion that the policy was invalid, the father fights Goliath and tackles liability laws to prevent such a struggle for innocent victims ever again. An absolutely wonderful book.

[Carol Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you live in Minnesota, you probably remember the private plane crash in 2003 near Grand Marais, MN where two adults were killed in the crash. No survivors were expected but when the rescuers reached the plane, they found Grace, age 4, and Lily, age 3. They were greeted with "Mommy burned up." Grace had pulled her sister from the wreckage, saving her life. This is the story of the crash, the rescue, the rehabilitation of Grace and Lily and the impact on Toby their father who lost his wife and on their aunt who lost her husband who was piloting the plane. It also deals with the liability of the various insurance companies and the work Toby did to change laws regarding insurance for private aircraft. It's a very moving book - well-written and heavily researched. The author, Damian Fowler, is a British journalist now based in New York City.

[Jaralee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This true story will inspire readers who go on this journey with the Pearsons. It brings up many questions about the cost of healthcare, and raises interesting perspectives about the insurance companies we depend on to make these costs bearable. Not only was this a book that showed the strength, spirit and commitment of a young father making sure his little girls had all the advantages they needed in order to make both a physical and emotional recovery after a deadly plane crash in which they miraculously survived, but it exposed the unethical behavior of insurance companies that operate from money as the bottom line. At any moment, any of us can be thrust into a place where the price of healthcare may threaten the care of ourselves or our loved ones.

[Deb Ristow · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book as a good reads give away. I did enjoy the book at first but quickly lost interest. Honestly had a hard time getting through the book. There was a lot of detail, almost too much detail in regards to the legalities and every day life. I think the story concept could have been amazing if the author would have gone into more depth of the crash, the aftermath- both emotionally and physically. I was excited to be the winner of this book- it just didn't live up to my expectations.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

On a cloudy day in August 2003, Grace and Lily Pearson, 4 and 3, were flying in their uncle's plane along with their mother on their way to their grandpa's birthday party when Lily noticed the trees out the window were growing close. A story of tragedy, survival, and justice, this book is about a father's fight for his family in the wake of a plane crash that killed his wife, badly injured his two daughters, and thrust him into a David-vs-Goliath legal confrontation with a multi-billion dollar insurance company. A story of forage and perseverance; very compelling.

[Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tough to start reading only because I know the family. Fowler captures the essence and reality of Carolyn and Toby and blends the story of the crash and aftermath in a captivating and honest way. The story flow continues as Toby struggles with his loss and the long physical and emotional healing process for himself and his daughters, Grace and Lily. A tragedy that leaves you inspired by the resiliency and attitude of the survivors and impressed by the willingness and perseverance to have the laws changed to better protect us all. The book lags a little in sections relating to aviation law.

[Cherish · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed hearing about the characters and the struggles and their defeating of hardships. However there was a lot of litigation and law that didn't interest me. That might just be me though. I felt though that a lot of the added background of plane crashes was really extensive and perhaps not necessary. That's when I started losing interest, but the facts and law banter isn't on every page. it jumps from the situation with the family to the law talk.

[Ketti · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting book, the title is what drew me in. Fowler does a great job of telling the story but also educating the reader on air safety. Spatial disorientation, the inability of a person to correctly determine his body position in space was very interesting to learn about. Coincidentally I was talking a flight in the middle of this book, gave me something to think about for sure. A true story of resilience, I wish the very best for Grace and Lilly and their family.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty good book - not a great book. The story was really interesting and well researched and the topic was interesting to me. We all hear about disasters but rarely hear or know about what happens after. Hearing about how someone's life, already torn apart, can be decimated even more by insurance companies and greed. Still, I thought that the book contained a lot of repetition and "extra words." This book could have easily cut out a third and have been better for it.

[Dick Scherer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks for sharing your story and your lives


A tragic but ultimately heartwarming story of real people's lives. Well worth the read, especially for those of us who live in Minnesota and know the environs of the story. Even more special to o e who has been blessed to have met the Pearsons and to know what wonderful people they are.

[Shelly Dewitt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beginning had me interested, but once the author went into legalities, he completely lost me and I no longer enjoyed the book. I kind of know why he did that, but I would have enjoyed this one more had he stuck to the story he initially began.

[Donna Luu · Rating 3 out of 5]

A tragic story with a strange twist. I had never heard of an insurance company suing an accident victim in a declaratory-type action. And changing aviation legislation, even just in Minnesota, was such a positive result.