Stonycreek Township near Stoystown in Somerset County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

The Investigation

Flight 93 National Memorial

— National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior —

The Investigation Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean Flynn, April 24, 2024

1. The Investigation Marker

Inscription. First responders quickly determined there were no survivors of the Flight 93 crash. The Pennsylvania State Police secured the crash site as a federal crime scene. The September 11 attack led to the largest investigation in FBI history. Hundreds of investigators combed the crash site collecting evidence. Agents verified the identity of the terrorists as members of al-Qaeda.

A Crime Scene
Investigators soon realized that, of the four crash sites, the Shanksville location would likely yield the most evidence. Because Flight 93 crashed in an open field, parts of the plane, personal effects, and human remains were recovered here more easily than at the World Trade Center and Pentagon.

The FBI excavated the impact crater to find the "black boxes." Investigators also searched the nearby grove of hemlock trees and the surrounding field for clues. They recovered several knives, documents in Arabic that detailed the attack plan, passports, and a bank card belonging to a terrorist.

On September 24, 2001, the FBI concluded its field investigation at the Flight 93 crash site. Investigators recovered only a small percentage of

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human remains. Scientists, working with the coroner, identified all onboard through DNA analysis. By early October, the excavated crater was backfilled, scorched trees were removed, and the site was planted with grass and wildflowers.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: 9/11 Attacks • Air & Space • Disasters. A significant historical date for this entry is September 11, 2001.

Location. 40° 3.045′ N, 78° 54.094′ W. Marker is near Stoystown, Pennsylvania, in Somerset County. It is in Stonycreek Township. It can be reached from Ring Road. The marker is in the Memorial Plaza of the Flight 93 National Memorial. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Stoystown PA 15563, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands.

It is also in the American Northeast,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy

and also one of

Photographed by Sean Flynn, April 25, 2024

2. The Investigation Marker

The marker is on the left side of this photo.

the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Since September 11 (a few steps from this marker); "In the cockpit. If we don't, we'll die!" (a few steps from this marker); Threat in the Air (a few steps from this marker); America Attacked (a few steps from this marker); Welcome to the Memorial Plaza (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Welcome to the Memorial Plaza (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Crash Site and Debris Field (about 500 feet away); Overlooking History (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Stoystown.

Other markers no longer nearby. The Investigation (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); “We're going to do something.” (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); America Attacked! (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Mayday! (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now

Close-up of photo of Flight 93 debris search image. Click for full size.

3. Close-up of photo of Flight 93 debris search

In this close-up of the photo on the marker, FBI Evidence Response Teams search the crash site for evidence.

near it).

More about this marker. The marker is one a half-dozen located in the Memorial Plaza. It was installed sometime after 2016 and replaced an older marker with an identical title. This newer marker has a different layout, an additional photo and a somewhat different font.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. The original marker, which was also titled The Investigation, with a different layout and text.

Flight 93 National Memorial image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean Flynn, April 24, 2024

4. Flight 93 National Memorial

This photo, taken from the Flight Path Overlook next to the visitors center, offers a panoramic view of the crash site. A boulder in the green field behind the memorial marks the spot where Flight 93 crashed into the ground on September 11, 2001, about ⅓ of a mile from where this photo was taken. To the left of the field is a small structure that is part of the Memorial Plaza; historical markers describing Flight 93 and its aftermath is to the left of that structure.

Close-up of photo of Flight 93 fuselage section image. Click for full size.

5. Close-up of photo of Flight 93 fuselage section

This close-up of the photo on the marker shows the largest piece of the fuselage found in the wreckage of Flight 93.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 29, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 25, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 285 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 25, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 3. submitted on December 31, 2016, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 4. submitted on May 3, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 5. submitted on December 31, 2016, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.