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Missing Maule Pilot Found!

Alex Clark

Alex Clark

Registered User
Life Long Alaskan
Saturday, Nov 27, 2004

Some of you know that we (CAP Alaska Air Guard and some private planes) have been flying search missions since Monday night. The weather has been terrible and we (Homer Alaska CAP squadron 10) were just one of several planes searching an area the size of Ireland (Kenai Peninsula) for a 1988 Maule M-7-235 that was flying (reportedly direct) from Palmer Alaska to Seldovia Alaska.

I had just about given up hope of finding him alive due to the weather and the fact that he seemed to have slipped off the face of the earth. (No flight Plan, and never radioed his position once he was past Anchorage)
The only good things were that he was believed to have some survival gear on board, had made the trip several times and he had big tires...

Last Night,,,Our missing Maule pilot supposedly radioed a Coast Guard C-130 with a hand held marine band radio. He was inside a cabin he found down in Dogfish Bay. (there is a fishing lodge and cabins in that area for summer use.) He was 20-25 coastal flight miles past his intended destination.

I went out late that afternoon looking for him and I had overcast 500-900 feet above the sea water in that area. Plus Freezing rain. I don't know what it was doing at the exact time he entered that area.

No word yet on if his plane is still there or if it is in the water. We never heard an ELT signal so the story might be interesting.

And... fortunately nobody else was hurt or planes damaged while looking for him. I flew every day and so did the Kenai, Anchorage, Seward and Birchwood CAP units. The turbulence was so bad in some canyons that the hot shot Beaver pilots had to turn around. I managed to make a couple of seasoned observers puke and one may never go up with me again after flying through a white-out snow squalls.

He was supposed to be picked up today at the Dogfish location. The whole story will be interesting if it ever comes out. Sometimes the FAA, insurance companies and NTSB, get in the way of a really good story.

The moral of this story.
A. File a plan. if that is not your style then
B. Call in Pi-Reps so somebody has an idea where the heck you are or where your were.
C. Carry survival gear.
D. Hand held radios are good.
E. If you can, trigger your ELT while you are still in the air.
F. If you are in the habit of flying past your stated destination, or if you like to detour off to look at sheep and goats. Then tell people you do that stuff, so we don't have to listen to all of your friends and relations telling us how you ALWAYS fly GPS direct and never deviate....!!
 
I just had to fly some guy down there to take some aerial photos of the area.

The tides have really been high and there are not many beaches in that area. Although there is a runway for the lodge.

His plane is not anywhere to be seen and his prelimary statements were that he force landed on the beach and the tide took his plane before he could ever get her started again. Engine problems in a Maule do not make for much gliding distance.

That would explain the lack of an ELT signal.
 
My years as comm director in Utah Wing taught me a few things....carry a spare ELT on your person....attached to you, so you can swim with it , if neccessary. No ELT signal, no findee.....
 
It made the news here in Seattle too, but really didn't cover the search efforts being made. He looked to be in pretty good shape....I agree the rest of the story might be interesting.
 
I personally flew over 620 square miles at low level, 300 to 800 agl, and then another 80 miles of shoreline low enough that I had to use the landing lights to look for white plane parts when the sun went down.
Other folks in my unit and the the guys and gals from up in kenai, Seward and Birchwood were all out there doing the same thing.

We started to fly in that direction a few times but, it was out of our assigned area since nobody thought that he would fly 25 miles past his intended destination in declining weather. We were once within 5 miles or so with one of our radios and the ELT finder turned on, but it seems he did not get his ELT from the plane.
And nobody knew he made it that far because he did not call in any pi-reps or make position reports.

I am sure that by the time the story get spun a few times he will be the center of some Alaska Magazine article.

I ran his accident report from three years ago when he wrecked a C-180 just to see how similar the incidents were.
 
Yeap, never again..

It must be a hold over from my 20 years of being a Cop / EMT. My new motto is ( Do not create an emergency while responding to an emergency!)

I was worried sick that the snow would cover this guy's crash site/wreck before we could find him. As it turns out, he was not where he said he would be.

But at least I called in so much that my brother and sister pilots would only have a 7.5 by 7.5 mile area to search.
 
fobjob, I have to disagree with you about the extra ELT. A sattelite phone would have saved his family a lot of agony, many search workers a lot of time, and considerable money spent on the search. I think it is time for the FAA to reconsider what should be the necessary survival equipment. The FAA should also make external baggage doors less hassle. I fear someday that I may have to dig back into my extended baggage for survival equipment.
 
Better Watch Those Beaches in Cook Inlet!

With 20 to 30 foot tidal changes in Cook Inet, it is always important to be aware of where you are landing on the beaches. Always attempt to determine where the high tide mark is located and look for a place after landing to get the A/C up above the high tide mark. You may have to clear drift wood or drive through beach rye grass dunes to gain access. Nevertheless, this is the safest way to go. If you can't get above the high tide mark, you have to be on constant alert when that high tide starts rolling in again. Have your tide book handy, and on top of all things, don't stray far from your A/C. Continuously check the incoming tide so that it does not sneak up on you. It is simply amazing how fast it comes in. Don't let it catch you! It is awesome and our insurance rates take off again.

Cub Special Driver
 
ground loop, I agree. If you have time to dig in the back, a phone would be a good thing to lay your hands on....unfortunately, not all battery operated gizmos work when needed..My plan is to have an extra ELT in the cockpit,(which can be grabbed) an EPIRB(modified ELT) in my survival vest, and a phone in the survival pack that is tethered to my fat butt, to hopefully leave the aircraft when I do. Redundency works....
 
EPIRB

By the way, an EPIRB or PLB isn't that hard to come up with. There are plenty of broken EBC-102 ELT's out there, and fixing them is easy. Unpot them with a Dremel, and resolder all of the joints. ..put a U-clamp over the on-off-on(momentary) switch, and drill through so that a cotter pin through the holes will block the switch from going to the steady-on position. Place a loop or hand grenade pin on the cotter pin, and you have an EPIRB. (don't forget to re-pot it..)(CAUTION: properly dispose of your hand grenade after removing pin!!)
http://supercub.org/gallery/view_photo.php?set_albumName=supercubs&id=ebc_102
 
SAT. phones are a great answer. In my case 35 miles from DC forced landing off airport after total engine loss, no injuries, cell coverage was almost zero. hand-held VHF radio was great. Took me hiking out and then taking everyone back in for anyone to find it. I did shut off the ELT after the motion stopped since I was not hurt. hand held gps was handy also. I always have the survival gear close! Have had to use it too many times flying and when not.
 
What ever happened to those emergency tranmitters that are linked to the Satellite. Some stores had them for sale here in Bozeman but I haven't seen them lately. They were yellow and water proof with an antenna and a gps transmitter in them. My wife is looking for a gift for me and I would like to get her the data. Guess she wants me found more than the life insurance.
 
An EPIRB has to be manually switched on. Why would that be better than a sat phone?

I carry my sat phone in my pocket when I'm flying, hunting, snowmachining, etc. My wife always appreciates knowing I'll be late, which I tend to do a lot.

The reasons you potentially can get stranded are often not emergency situations. EPIRBs don't recognize the difference. To alert the National Guard to come and get me because my battery's dead or a bear ate my tires, or even the tide taking my plane seems a bit unnecessary given the availability of a better alternative.

SB
 
We're talking emergencies here, duh. BUT, the pilot in question, by not having a sat phone, or good batteries for his sat phone, or a working ELT...created an emergency....for his searchers! Good people put themselves at risk flying in crappy weather to rescue idiots, all the time. How we used to justify that, was the realization, that all folks go through a period of idiocy once in a while*...that's how they get into trouble! This discussion is the best defence, by prodding thought and getting people to think ahead of time about consequences.....
I would put the list like this:
1. Sat Phone
2. VHF aircraft HT
3. Marine band HT(for you coastal folks)
4. EPIRB or portable ELT(with voice transmit capability)

*Every 33 days, in fact. Yep, biorhythms seem to have a significant effect on accidents. Mine, and many others seem to occur on physical crossover(going down..??) days combined with intellectual lows. Combine that pattern with high stress and lost sleep from the effort of getting ready to get outta town on a trip, and you have a day or two of definite sub-par performance which can be predicted, and prepared for.
 
We're talking emergencies here, duh.
Click to expand...

That's exactly my point. There was no emergency here, except lack of communication. If this had been me, and I had the choice to trigger my ELT or make a phone call, I'd have made a phone call.

Save the Blackhawks (and my tax money) for real emergencies.

SB
 
Hmmm

Well maybe this guy didnt like his maule. Landed on the beach, had his buddy fly it off to a remote strip, and will part it out. Everybody thinks he is lost, the sea "washed" away his airplane and now the insurance co. is going to buy him a new one......

wouldnt the ELT be one of the things to grab with survival equipment?
 
According to quotes from the guy in the newspaper (yeah, we all know about those, but), he landed on a beach to beachcomb. When he got back in the plane, he couldn't restart it. He got his survival gear out of the plane, but didn't think of the elt, unfortunately.

For those of you who've never seen Seldovia tides, they are awesome, and huge.

That said, there are several ways he could have communicated his distress when he realized that he wasn't flying out of there: Turn on the ELT, or remove it from the plane, and turn it on. Get on the aircraft radio on the nearest RCAG frequency, and call in the blind on an active Center freq. If there's someone up there at FL 410, he'll be happy to pass along a message. Or as noted, get a sat phone/portable ELT.

I'm just assuming here, but its possible that the tide came up far enough that his takeoff area was underwater, and he assumed (incorrectly) that the plane would be safe, and he'd be able to fly it off the next day, so he just gathered up his camping gear, and set up camp. Sometime later, the tide took the plane away, and he then realized the pickle he was in. The guy had a tent, camping gear, etc, so was never really in any significant distress, except on foot.

As I recall, the tides at this time of year are about as big as they get in the Seldovia area. I know I've drug a Cub WAAAAY up on a beach this time of year in Kodiak, and still sweated bullets that I'd calculated right.

Finally, I'd give the guy credit for at least being savvy enough to get his stuff together and live out there for a few days without major injury.

I feel sorry for his family, but maybe next time (if there is one) he'll go better prepared, including knowing how to flooded start and/or hand prop a Maule.

So, aren't any of you guys gonna make some comments about the highest and best use of a Maule is as crab habitat?

MTV
 
behindpropellers said:
Hmmm

Well maybe this guy didnt like his maule. Landed on the beach, had his buddy fly it off to a remote strip, and will part it out. Everybody thinks he is lost, the sea "washed" away his airplane and now the insurance co. is going to buy him a new one......

wouldnt the ELT be one of the things to grab with survival equipment?
Click to expand...

Read the last paragraph.

http://www.ktuu.com/CMS/anmviewer.asp?a=8581&z=4

SB
 
Whilst I was searching I noticed that the tides were super high. The Jakoloff Beach strip was totally underwater.

Of course he could have landed on the Dogfish gravel runway, which leads to the beach and he would not have lost his plane.

Or radioed Homer FSS as he flew over as most normal pilots do while flying through Homer class E. 123.60

Or radioed Kenai flight service on his way down the peninsula. 122.0, 122.2

Or maybe mentioned his passing to any of the 135 operators flying Kachemak bay on 122.9

Or just gone straight to Seldovia like he was supposed to do. Then on another less crappy weather day he could have gone to Dogfish, AFTER he told somebody where he was going.

Maybe he decided that since he was being inconsiderate to his wife, (and brother and sister pilots) by blowing off his family flight plan, that he would land on one of the rocky cliff sided beaches near the mouth of Dogfish. That way he could endanger his plane and himself in a place far from the eyes of any witnesses or radio contact.

Makes me wonder,
The first story was an emergency landing due to engine trouble and the plane would not restart and the tide took it.

Second story released was that it was a beach combing trip and the plane would not start after a sucessfull beach landing and then the tide took it.

If somebody tries to land on a beach and flips their plane by the surf line. Does that look worse to the insurance company than claiming that it would not start after a nice landing and later the tide took it. Either way they do not have a plane to examine. So one way would be pilot error and the other an act of nature...

And what the heck is this stuff about leaving his survival and camping gear and taking off with only two cans of sardines. Yeah maybe if you can see the old logging camp which is now Dogfish lodge. But even then it sounds really odd.
 
Alex,
I thought CAP volunteers did what they did for the satisfaction of helping others. You seem pretty pissed-off. Is that the typical attitude of CAP members?
SB
 
None of my comments are related to my involvement with the CAP, The Alaska Air National Guard, and or any Public Safety agency within the State of Alaska. Nor with other military branches or law enforcement agencies with which I have been previously employed.

Nor do my wiley and snide comments reflect any remarks, comments or swear words shared with me by anyone else in any of those agencies.

Any odd remark I make is generated souly as my being a concerned experienced Alaskan pilot.

Furthermore, I am overly critical, excessively suspicious and nit picky,, not pissed.

Concerned, is when your teenage daughter does not call or come home on time.

Critical, is how you feel after the joy wears off from finding out she is not dead on the roadway someplace. So you yell at her until you feel better.

Pissed, is emotion related to the 20 year old thug who knocked your daughter up shortly before he went missing. Only to be found in an abandoned well a couple years later. It appears when you realize that the body was not hidden well enough.
Or if I was English it would mean alcohol intoxication.

I was concerned while the individual in question was missing.
Now I am being overly critical and nit-picky.
It takes my mind off the price of Av Gas
 
Just to satisfy my curiosity, What happens to a commercial pilot when he wraps an airplane into a ball. Does it have any effect on his ticket or his insuarance, what do the big airlines think or do?
 
Pontifications abound!!!! :eek:

Ok, Let me drag out some points for you all, so ye can be pissed in proper order:

Mike and I hunt, fly, bullsh-t and many other things together. Good thing he is back so I can get my biannual signed off again.

First: Sat phone- though touted as the ultimate call "anywhere"; just bring them down and I can take you a few places that they do not work! Yes a good idea, but not the ultimate.

Radio: I believe that mike talked to a plane as he came by Seldovia, he told me the weather was not bad, and he had time to kill. Yes, he should, as we all should, have called and let someone know. (I do silly things daily, try explaining two flat tires at once!). He did not, lesson for all should be learned.

His master solenoid did not function. He worked on hand propping for quite a bit, until water was at his feet. Then took out survival gear, (which for him includes a tent and Wiggy bag) and decided to pull the radios to communicate. He was losing light and had difficulty with "surf crashing through the door" so was unable to get the radios out, but could not talk to anyone at that point. Upon abandoning the plane he realized that he had not switched on, nor grabbed the elt. It was a better option to not swim to the plane. By the time the tide had released the plane, the batteries were dead.

He did not start in Dogfish, but hiked there after waiting three days. He knew that he had to get communications or make contact directly.

Thank you to all of the search pilots. I had offered to come up and help, but was told that there were more than enough planes out already, and I would be in the way. We can pick the mistakes apart easily now, looking at it, but having been in much the same situation in my past, I must say that if one stays alive, and actively works towards being found, you have to give credit. (finding radio, bonfire etc.)

Thoes of you that know Mike will agree that he is one of the most humble, kind, generous people in the world. His friendship has meant much to myself and my wife. Let thoes that have not endangered their ship in a moment of dumbness be the ones to point fingers.
 
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