[kentb]

Plane crash survivors rescued

Investigation into cause of the crash begins.
By Jeff Kirsch
Monday, March 5, 2007
News On Demand - Audio

Survivors of a Central Oregon plane crash were rescued Tuesday afternoon. They were taken to St. Charles Medical Center. Their injuries are non-life-threatening. They are in stable condition.

The 1968 single-engine Piper 28 crashed Monday night about 10 miles west of Odell Lake in the Central Oregon Cascades. The Oregon Army National Guard launched an OH-58 Kiowa helicopter equipped with a FLIR night vision camera to locate the crash scene Monday night. At 10:26 p.m. the two people, each with a flashlight, were found near the crash scene in Lane County. Supplies were dropped to the survivors.

Sixteen search and rescue personnel from Klamath, Douglas, and Lane counties made a four hour trek by snowmobile and snowshoes into the area and arrived Tuesday morning at the scene. One of the plane occupants reportedly was injured and is requiring transport on a backboard for medical treatment.

The Guard dispatched two Blackhawk Helicopters to retrieve the survivors. Each carried a four-person crew, including a paramedic.

 

[Bob Martin]

A good ending

Thanks for a "good" story!

 

[JonJay]

Middle of nowhere.

They are extremely lucky. This is out in heavily wooded and mountainous terrain that I have had occasion to fly over. Any open spots are strewn with lava and rocks. We also have had a lot of snow, which may or may not have helped. Due to several recent incidences in Oregon, Mt. Hood Climbers, Lee Family stranding, and other national news worthy tradgedies, our search and rescue groups are primed and ready. They obviously did a great job and the pilot must have done so too.
Very good to hear everybody was found quickly and made it out ok.