Alaska Air National Guard saves downed pilot
The wreckage was spotted in rugged, mountainous terrain at an elevation of around 3,000 ft.
Members of the Alaska Air National Guard’s 210th and 212th Rescue Squadrons rescued a pilot on 3 August after his plane crashed in the vicinity of Ptarmigan Pass about 130 miles northwest of Anchorage, Alaska, US.
The pilot’s brother contacted the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center (RCC) on the morning of 3 August reporting that the pilot had been expected to return on 1 August. Aircraft wreckage was found during a search within a few hours of the call, and the pilot did not appear to have sustained serious injuries.
“The pilot was traveling with a satellite tracking device that can be used to send emergency messages via text and also sends a signal of the aircraft location periodically,” said Lt Col Scot Milani, director of the RCC. “The last known co-ordinates provided by his brother assisted in identifying a general area where the plane was when it last submitted a transmission.”
The RCC notified the Federal Aviation Administration, which prompted an overdue aircraft notice, and then initiated a search mission and requested support from the Alaska Air National Guard’s 176th Wing rescue units. An HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter from the 210th Rescue Squadron and two pararescuemen from the 212th Rescue Squadron departed Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson and conducted a search in the general area of known co-ordinates.
“The mission was conducted in inclement weather, with low ceiling and reduced visibility, rain and fog,” said Milani. “They conducted the search low and slow.”
The wreckage was spotted in rugged, mountainous terrain at an elevation of around 3,000 ft, and the survivor was helped to the helicopter. He was handed over to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center at 13:30 hrs.
Milan commented: “It’s important for pilots to have a plan – letting someone know where they are going, their planned route, when they plan to depart and return – and be packed with food, gear and shelter. They should be equipped to spend an extended period of time surviving until rescue forces are able to locate them in the event of an emergency.”