Man, I hate to be a bearer of bad news again. We have another "probable" fatality with a missing pilot right here from my home base Harvey Field (S43). 51 year old pilot departed Harvey early Saturday afternoon in his 46 Taylorcraft for a "local" flight to be back home around 5:00pm. He never returned. Civil Air Patrol has been searching since he was reported missing. Nothing yet. No transponder or ELT was on the aircraft and he didnt not inform anyone of his flight plan. The foothills around here are covered with forest. Its not looking good.

I saw this reported on another site. The Taylorcraft in question is very distinctive looking, with patrol doors and a white-n-red Coast Guard style paint scheme. Hopefully someone will have seen it out and about that day & can help narrow down the search area.
I also read elsewhere that there was no ELT aboard-- I wonder if that's really the case or maybe it was misreported by the news? ELT's are generally required equipment unless it's a single-seater-- not much reason to not have one on board (they're pretty cheap & don't weigh much), and the benefits are pretty obvious in case of a mishap (like now).
I hope they find this airplane soon. Don't wanna put the hoodoo on him, but unfortunately it might be a lost cause for the pilot. But at least the family could get some closure.

Eric

The weather has been nasty and cold for the last few days, but I just received a message from the owner of S43 that evidently he was heading toward/from Shelton.

When the weather lifts and you are in the area please keep your eye out for a red and white plane in the trees between Snohomish and Shelton.

TD

Apparently he might have gone to Westport, and then was heading back to Sheldon from there.

Even if he has a 121.5khz ELT, remember that the SARSAT satellite hasn't been looking for that signal since February. He would be depending completely on the civil air patrol to do triangulation based on signal strength - which is not easy even when they're following a flight-plan route and pretty tough when he could be anywhere on the Olympic Penninsula. God be with him. and with the people looking for him.

Another tragic story happened in Canada last Saturday - a PA28 crashed in a remote part of the Algonquin wilderness on a flight between Kingston, Ontario and Sudbury, Ontario - with 4 people killed. That crash happened at about 8pm on Saturday night and search & rescue were on the scene by 3am Sunday. I can barely get pizza delivered that fast. Those 406MHZ ELTs are pretty smart, and in Canada they're also law.

I hope they find him.

On another note...is it pretty involved to switch over to the new ELTs?

I'm looking into it now - the unit itself is pretty reasonable (~$800), but apparently there's some wiring needed for a panel switch or an annunciator or something. The labor on that is another $1000 or so.

Those 406MHZ ELTs are pretty smart, and in Canada they're also law.

Not quite true.

406-MHz ELTs not required for flights to Canada, for now
By AOPA ePublishing Staff

For the time being, pilots who fly to Canada don’t need to worry about being forced to upgrade to a 406-MHz emergency locator transmitter in order to continue flying in that country. Canadian Minister of Transport John Baird suspended the controversial rule which would have required all aircraft flying in Canada to be equipped with the 406-MHz ELT starting this year.

Canadian Owners and Pilots Association President Kevin Psutka has confirmed for AOPA that the minister refused to sign the rule because it did not include any viable alternatives to equipping with the 406-MHz ELTs. A new rule is to be drafted that includes alternatives and gives the acceptance of the new 406-MHz ELTs a shot.

Right now, the switch to the 406-MHz ELT is cost prohibitive for many pilots. Installation of the new equipment starts at $1,000 but can increase dramatically.

AOPA has been opposed to any proposal that would require the switch to a 406-MHz ELT, believing that such a decision should be left to the pilot’s discretion based on the type of flight operations and areas in which he or she frequently flies.

In October 2008, AOPA filed formal comments on the Canadian proposal, suggesting an alternative that would allow foreign-registered aircraft to carry a 406-MHz personal locator beacon in addition to the 121.5-MHz ELT already installed in most U.S. general aviation aircraft.

“We’re pleased that Canada’s Minister of Transport recognized the detrimental impact the mandate would have had on general aviation aircraft flying into the country,” said Rob Hackman, AOPA senior director of regulatory affairs. “The FAA does not require a 406-MHz ELT, so consistency in regulations between the United States and Canada make it easier for pilots to fly in both countries.”

The bad part about any ELT or 406 EPIRB is that the antenna is on the top of the fuselage. Unfortunately, the aircraft going on its back is quite common, rendering the antenna broken off and useless. A good hand held, whether it be a Spot, PLB, or satellite phone, is a better tool for the survivors.

I hope they find this guy OK.

gb

I am pretty sure that the survival rate for loss of engine are not varry good when over the Rockies, the Canyon Lands and the other places we like to go as compared to over Kansas. That said, the ELT or other device is there to find and retrieve the body.

A spot on the dash will show a position every 10 minuts. If you go down and role up into a ball of aluminum or linen, your friends that are on your list will just have to let the authorities know where the last position is and that will narrow it down pretty good.

If I am not misstaken, the spot is the cheapest way to show where you are. Got mine for free from the company and just had to pay for the subscription.

Tim

Tadpole wrote:I hope they find him.

On another note...is it pretty involved to switch over to the new ELTs?

I just had some major work done on my Maule and considered putting in a new 406 ELT. Unlike the 121.5 ELT with a small antenna attached, the 406 requires the antenna to be installed and run along the inside of the aircraft. So a fair bit of labor goes into tearing the interior apart to put the antenna in. As a matter of fact that is where most of the cost is. I was told it is a 6 to 8 hour job. I passed on the work for now.

Interesting. I hadn't realize that they had pulled the plug on a 406mhz requirement in Canada, or that there's a big antenna installation required. Still - I think I'll bite the bullet and get it done - the peace of mind alone is probably worth it.

Yet another missing, this time in AK:

http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=11322012

Maybe the unpredictable and spotty fall weather is to blame for this rash of wayward aircraft?

1SeventyZ wrote:Yet another missing, this time in AK:

http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=11322012

Maybe the unpredictable and spotty fall weather is to blame for this rash of wayward aircraft?

In the case of missing Harvey pilot it is unlikely weather was a factor. I also was flying at that same time and it was a perfect Saturday afternoon for flying. Sunny and very light wind.

nlike the 121.5 ELT with a small antenna attached, the 406 requires the antenna to be installed and run along the inside of the aircraft. So a fair bit of labor goes into tearing the interior apart to put the antenna in

I think the 406 Maule is installing at Moultrie has a "pan" type internal antenna. (Check w/ Doug) I got the internal installation instructions and they don't look too bad.

Internal antennae only for fabric aircraft as far as I can tell.

1SeventyZ wrote:Yet another missing, this time in AK:

http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=11322012

Maybe the unpredictable and spotty fall weather is to blame for this rash of wayward aircraft?

Good people are participating in this search. I'm in Anchorage currently- If I was at home, it would be much harder to stay ground-bound right now. If you look at the FAA web cams to the east and west http://akweathercams.faa.gov/index.php# (click on Southeast, then on McKinley Park, and Minchumina), you can get sky-shots of the search weather. You can also see NPS ranger vehicles at INR participating in the search effort.

Come on Dan and Gordon.

Small plane found in Denali National Park
MARY PEMBERTON Associated Press Writer
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A plane that carried a pilot and a wolf biologist who went missing while searching for wolves in Denali National Park was found today. (Thursday)

Park spokeswoman Kris Fister said the white and blue Cessna 185 that carried biologist Gordon Haber and pilot Daniel McGregor was spotted in some trees on a mountainside near the east fork of the Toklat River about seven miles downstream from the park road.

Fister said an Alaska State Trooper and two Park Service employees were headed to the site Thursday evening to get ground confirmation.

There was no immediate word on Haber or McGregor's condition.

The plane took off at about noon Wednesday and was supposed to return by nightfall.

The Park Service was notified at about midnight that the plane was overdue.

Fister said a flight plan indicated the two were looking for wolf packs.

Thursday's search was focused on the north side of the park because that is where wolves tend to be, she said.

Haber, an independent biologist who for decades has studied Denali's wolves, is a frequent visitor to the 6 million-acre park in south-central Alaska.

It was not known where Haber intended to look for wolves on Wednesday.

The weather in the park on Wednesday was clear with some low-lying fog banks. Winds were calm.

On Thursday, the weather was mostly overcast with a trace of snow.

Denali National Park and Preserve News Release


October 15, 2009 – 8:00 p.m.
For Immediate Release


Plane Crash Site Located in Denali National Park

Aerial searchers located what appears to be the missing Cessna 185 at
approximately 3:00 p.m. today on a steep slope west of the East Fork of the
Toklat River, approximately seven miles north of the Denali Park Road. A
search plane was able to land later in the afternoon on the river bar
approximately one-half mile below the crash site, and an Alaska State
Trooper hiked to the scene to investigate. The aircraft was substantially
damaged by the impact and the post crash fire, but the trooper was able to
determine the presence of human remains before increasing darkness
prevented his further investigation. The identification of the plane’s
occupants, reported to be pilot Dan McGregor, 35 of Denali Park, and his
passenger Gordon Haber, 67, also of Denali Park, cannot be confirmed until
a more thorough investigation takes place.

Park rangers have reached the scene of the crash, and are continuing the
investigation overnight. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
investigators will be flown to the site tomorrow.

The plane departed from a private airstrip outside the park on Wednesday,
October 14 for a day flight, and the two men were reported overdue when
they failed to return at dark. The Alaska State Troopers were notified that
the plane was overdue around midnight, and then notified the National Park
Service. The initial overflight early this morning by a Hercules HC-130
dispatched through the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center in Anchorage
failed to pick up an ELT signal.

There were seven aircraft involved in today’s search, including four
aircraft from the Fairbanks Civil Air Patrol Squadron, an Alaska Wildlife
Trooper Cessna 185, a HC-130 from the 211th Rescue Squadron in Anchorage,
and the National Park Service Husky. The search focused on the north side
of the park, in areas that were known to be utilized by the wolf packs
Haber was studying.

-NPS-

denalipilot wrote:Denali National Park and Preserve News Release


October 15, 2009 – 8:00 p.m.
For Immediate Release


Plane Crash Site Located in Denali National Park

Aerial searchers located what appears to be the missing Cessna 185 at
approximately 3:00 p.m. today on a steep slope west of the East Fork of the
Toklat River, approximately seven miles north of the Denali Park Road. A
search plane was able to land later in the afternoon on the river bar
approximately one-half mile below the crash site, and an Alaska State
Trooper hiked to the scene to investigate. The aircraft was substantially
damaged by the impact and the post crash fire, but the trooper was able to
determine the presence of human remains before increasing darkness
prevented his further investigation. The identification of the plane’s
occupants, reported to be pilot Dan McGregor, 35 of Denali Park, and his
passenger Gordon Haber, 67, also of Denali Park, cannot be confirmed until
a more thorough investigation takes place.

Park rangers have reached the scene of the crash, and are continuing the
investigation overnight. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
investigators will be flown to the site tomorrow.

The plane departed from a private airstrip outside the park on Wednesday,
October 14 for a day flight, and the two men were reported overdue when
they failed to return at dark. The Alaska State Troopers were notified that
the plane was overdue around midnight, and then notified the National Park
Service. The initial overflight early this morning by a Hercules HC-130
dispatched through the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center in Anchorage
failed to pick up an ELT signal.

There were seven aircraft involved in today’s search, including four
aircraft from the Fairbanks Civil Air Patrol Squadron, an Alaska Wildlife
Trooper Cessna 185, a HC-130 from the 211th Rescue Squadron in Anchorage,
and the National Park Service Husky. The search focused on the north side
of the park, in areas that were known to be utilized by the wolf packs
Haber was studying.

-NPS-

That sucks!! Sorry to hear about the loss!

Long day. Bad deal. Longer, worse day tomorrow.

Kudos to the CAP guys for some pretty darn sharp eyes. Our search area was basically the size of Connecticut. Like finding a needle in 10,000 haystacks.

Dan is a friend of mine. I have received a call telling me that Dan has been found alive after walking out of Denali National Park.