boarded SKY-9 and joined the pilot, photojournalist and a reporter. They were assigned to fly the
perimeter of the search area.
Less than an hour later, the Bell 206-B attempted to land in "an unauthorized L.Z." As the
helicopter was circling on final approach, it crashed into nearby trees. The helicopter suffered
substantial damage as it landed on its side. Three of the four passengers were injured. The
rescuer walked away from the scene. An Army Chinook helicopter, assisting in the search, landed
near the crash site, and evacuated the four passengers.
Weather conditions at the time of the accident were 0 degrees F. with winds of 30 mph, gusting to
50 mph. The NTSB sited "Weather: Downdrafts, updrafts, and local whirlwind" as causes for the
accident.
Just over two hours later, search teams located the lost subject near the trailhead. He was unhurt.
The rescuer on board the helicopter, Hunter Holloway, went on to become the President of the
Mountain Rescue Association less than a decade later.
"Metal- and men - had flown everywhere"
On September 11, 1980 a Canadian climber reported his partner seriously injured in North
Cascades National Park. A helicopter was requested from Whidbey Island Naval Air Station to
pull the climber from the rugged terrain. The " Navy... was reluctant to launch. The sheriff
eventually persuaded them to fly
v
"
The twin-rotor SeaKnight CH-46 ("Firewood One") lifted off with a six-man crew. En route they
picked up a Sheriff's Deputy to help navigate.
As they felt their way through the thick mist, it silently closed around them. Judging from
the badly twisted remains, Firewood One first hit the ground at the rear loading ramp, just
before a 50-foot rotor blade chopped the cockpit off. Metal and men had flown
everywhere.
vi
There were five fatalities in that accident, Dan Mahoney, Pat Kidgell, Roy Lewis, Tom Sanders,
and Rick Kubal. Two rescuers survived, the co-pilot (2 broken arms) and the Sheriff's Deputy
Hurlbut. One of the fatalities was catapulted to a cliff 200 yards away.
The next morning, two climbers stumbled onto the carnage... The Canadian Armed Forces
Base in B.C. reached the scene along with other teams from the area... According to Park
Ranger Bill Lester, `the Canadians hoisted the last survivor into their helicopter while
hovering in a cloud.
vii
Litter spin ejects patient
On December 9, 1989, 9 year-old Debbie Baisa fell in the Franklin Mountains outside El Paso
Texas. She had been hiking with her father and other friends and family members when she fell,
approximately one mile from the road. When the rescue was initiated, the EMS dispatcher stated
that Debbie had a suspected broken ankle. Later analysis would show she had sprained her
ankle.
