Was over the Nv, Or, Id border today and caught a broken call that came over guard from a Husky reporting that he had found a guy face down in the Blackrock desert. I was a good bit north of him, but I could hear the airliner that responded to him clearly. The airliner relayed the info to Reno Radio so they could launch a medical effort to assist.

The Husky reported that he had just been out flying around and spotted a motionless body face down in the open. He landed to investigate and found a guy wearing only pants, bloodied and injured to some extent, but still conscious. The Husky sent a good lat/long and a radial cut off of Lovelock, Reno reported back that they were launching a medical helo and the sheriff to assist.

Lucky for the dude that the Husky was out fooling around and was able to set down nearby. Sounded like the work of someone around here?

Dude's name wasn't Steve by any chance????

Steeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeevvvvvvve!!

I wonder what the guy was doing out there in that condition. Was foul play involved?

Lost his shirt in Vegas?

Maybe he was in training for the burning man festival.

I wrote this for the Husky list . . .

Jan and I spent the last week in Oregon, flying up to Sun River first, then over to her Uncle's ranch about 38 nm east of Burns. We had thunderstorms in the area both Monday and Tuesday, so the Husky was tied down in the alfalfa field with both screw in and fly-ties type anchors, had so many lines on it that it looked like something out of Gulliver's Travels.

Early Wednesday morning we launched for home, stopping for a stretch near the north end of the Black Rock Desert. The playa is many miles in width and length and most all of it is landable when dry.

Back in the air, I stayed a few feet off the deck for ten minutes or so, then climbed to 50 feet as the smoke from the California fires reduced visibility enough to take most of the fun out of flying low.

Near the south end of the desert, just east of where they hold the Burning Man thing, I spotted a body lying face down in an area where there were lots of tire tracks. Completely forgetting about moose stalls, I circled low and marked the spot on the Garmin where the face down body lay. Jan, in the back seat, said she saw him move his hand. Looked dead to me, so I figured she might be imagining it.

While maneuvering, I spotted a car parked 1.5 miles out and thought it might be connected. Turned out to be couple spending the night on the playa. They waved and I landed next to their car to ask if they knew anything about the man - - no joy. I flew back and landed next the body and they followed us over.

The man had only trousers on, there was blood on his head and abrasions on his back. He was able to say a few words but couldn't move. I called on 121.5 and got an airliner to relay the info to Reno. They relayed back that they'd dispatch a CareFlight helicopter. We put the Husky wing over him for shade and got a bit of water down him. The Helicopter too 45 minutes to reach us as they came from Reno some 95 miles to the south.

Turns out the guy initially wanted to end it all. Took maybe 100 over-the-counter sleeping pills, some whiskey, and then bailed out of his car at speed. (Not a real bright way to attempt suicide.) He had no idea how long he'd been on the desert but I guess the heat and suffering woke up his desire to survive. Had our track been 100 yards either way, he'd probably still be out there, though I'm sure he would not have lasted another day.

I uploaded a picture to the gallery (Black Rock body), but haven't figured out how to include it here or add a link yet.

bumper

And there are those who would say general aviation is a pointless pastime of playboys...

Nice work Bumper. Good job taking pics, too!

I've been out to the Alvord a couple times to fly-in/camp, and have heard stories about people getting wasted out of their minds, then they somehow find their way into one of the many hot springs, only to be discovered weeks later. Mmmm...human soup.

Good of you to step in and take responsibility bumper! I am sure you got extra brownie points where it counts the most! And thanks for sharing the story.

bumper wrote:
Jan and I spent the last week in Oregon, flying up to Sun River first, then over to her Uncle's ranch about 38 nm east of Burns. We had thunderstorms in the area both Monday and Tuesday, so the Husky was tied down in the alfalfa field with both screw in and fly-ties type anchors, had so many lines on it that it looked like something out of Gulliver's Travels.

Bumper Bumper Bumper,

from Sun River to east of Burns you flew over my house on the perimeter of BNO. You get this way, please stop by. I'm always good for a cup of coffee and toast with orange marmalade.

Then if the guy jumped out of his car, where did it go. Maybe another find out there some where.

C ya, Bub

Bub,

Had I known, we would have plunked down. Orange marmalade on toast is tough for an ex-limey to pass up. How do we find your place for next time?

I thought about having a look for his car, but the heat was getting brutal and Jan was having a severe bout of get home itus. Also, the number of vehicle tracks in the area, plus the low vis, would have relegated the search method to flying the perimeter of the desert - - which I'd think is probably a couple of hundred miles - - though obviously the vehicle would most likely be somewhere on the south end of the playa. (The desert is pretty much bounded on all sides by rising terrain. The vehicle would probably have continued on until it met some obstruction or ran out of gas.)

Good job Bumper!! Hopefully the guy is doing well!!

bumper wrote:Bub,

Had I known, we would have plunked down. Orange marmalade on toast is tough for an ex-limey to pass up. How do we find your place for next time.

I live right on the approach end of 12, just to the right on final. Most folks wouldn't notice as PIC is busy on short final.

Next time you come by PM me ahead of time and I'll get you my cell #.

C ya, Bub

Nice job Bumper! I tried to respond when you called on guard, but apparently I was too far north (I plotted the lat/long you sent). When I heard the airliner respond it was evident that he had good comm with you and that there were multiple replies so I just hung back and listened to it unfold. Kudos to you and 28TS (the high cover airliner) for a job well done!

Gee, it looks like you got there just in time!

tom

Tom you are a pisser. ...Great work Bumper...

Jolly good show, Bumper! Beats the heck out of a routine breakfast flight. The suicidal fellow may have a myocardial infarction on receipt of his CareFlight bill!

Now Here's a case for assisted suicide!!!

You should sell your photo and story to a Reno Gazette Journal reporter, cuz that photo is just great.

So.......did they find the car? Heck, if it was a collector car, maybe I'll run down and try to find it (hehehe). Oh wait, it might have been one of those interesting Burning Man cars.