Three people on a medical plane that took off from Arizona were found dead Friday at a crash site about 25 miles from their Colorado destination.
The twin-engine plane, flying from Chinle to Alamosa, Colo., lost radar and radio contact with flight controllers at about 10:20 p.m. Thursday, Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor said. After losing contact, the Civil Air Patrol began examining radar tracks to find the airplane's last known location, believed to be in Colorado.
The crash site, about 25 miles southwest of Alamosa in south-central Colorado, was discovered about 1:20 p.m. Friday by the Air National Guard, said Bob Campbell, Archuleta County Sheriff's Office country administrator.
The plane appeared to have crashed at 11,800 feet into Charlies Peak, located near the Continental Divide, he said. The Sheriff's Office sent a Blackhawk helicopter with four rescue workers to search for the victims, Campbell said.
The first victim was found and pronounced dead around 3 p.m. The other two bodies were found about an hour and a half later. It's unclear who was found first.
The Arizona Republic: 3 on medical flight found dead
:: As reported by NHQ, CAP responded with both Aircraft and Ground Teams. It sounds like both weather and terrain made for a tough search.
While it seems like there was nothing that would have made a difference in this case...
I'm reminded that we're in the Search AND Rescue business. It's been my experience that our Teams concentrate so much on the search part of the equation, that the rescue part it becomes something of an afterthought. Some of that is an unfortunate result of the corner that CAP regulations and the Air Force's lack of Medical Direction has painted us into.
Ground Team should be prepared to render real emergency medical assistance when needed.
I have no interest in carrying body bags instead of a trauma kit.
Anyone know what squadron(s) were on the search? I expect North Valley Cadet and Black Sheep Senior, but I'd be ncie to know for sure.
Posted by: FO Martin | October 09, 2007 at 11:29