San Gorgonio Search and Rescue Aids in Plane Crash Investigation

Aircraft Missing Since Sunday

By Michael P. Neufeld
from Rimoftheworld.net
Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Update 3 – Tuesday 5 p.m.

Angelus Oaks, CA – All rescue personnel, and the remains of four occupants of a single-engine Piper Cherokee, have reportedly been successfully extricated from the crash site in the area of San Gorgonio Summit, according to scanner reports.

Family members gathered at San Bernardino County Fire Station 15 in Angelus Oaks, this station served as the command center during the search and rescue operation.

Sheriff's Department spokesperson Cindy Beavers told RIMOFTHEWORLD.net that the damage to the plane was so significant that it was difficult for personnel who had rappelled from a helicopter to confirm the tail number on the downed aircraft.

"On Sunday," Beavers explained, "a family member, reported to Hesperia Police that a 1972 Piper was overdue on a flight from Baja California, Mexico to Hesperia. The missing plane was reportedly occupied by four persons."

Beavers stated that, due to the remote location of the crash, it took several hours for the bodies of the victims to be extracted from the wreckage. Today's search and rescue operation began with a 6:30 a.m. briefing, according to the department spokesperson.

The San Bernardino County Coroner will make positive identification of the victims, notify family members, and then officially release the names of the victims.

Update 2 – Tuesday 2:05 p.m.

San Bernardino National Forest – Authorities are updating information on the crash of a small plane near San Gorgonio Peak, and it now includes information that as many as four persons may have died in the accident on Sunday.

Scanner transmissions from search and rescue teams at the wreckage are difficult to understand because of wind interference but at 1:45 p.m. today they reported the litters were loaded and awaiting extraction off the mountain.

A Sheriff's Department helicopter had just refueled and was beginning the first extraction at the landing zone.

Weather conditions in the area of the crash site, and nearby landing zone, are currently reported as deteriorating, but search and rescue crews were heard indicating they hiked the litters to the landing zone and were preparing the first litter for retrieval by the helicopter.

Update—Tuesday 11 a.m.

San Bernardino National Forest – Search and Rescue teams securing the crash site in deteriorating weather conditions have been notified to make their way to the extraction zone as soon as possible.

Air Rescue 6 will pick up the team members in about an hour. Winds in the area of the crash site are reported in excess of 20 miles per hour, and increasing steadily. The wind chill factor in the area is reported as 10 below zero by team members still on the ground.

Scanner reports did not indicate how many team members were still in the area of the downed aircraft. Earlier reports had indicated that eight search and rescue members, and two deputy coroners, rappelled from the helicopter down to the crash scene.

Original Story

San Bernardino National Forest – The San Bernardino County Coroner has confirmed the identity of the pilot of a Piper Cherokee missing on a flight from Palm Springs to Hesperia. The wreckage was spotted Monday after it disappeared from radar screens just before 11:30 a.m. on Sunday.

The plane, registered to Douglas R. Bowles of Hesperia, was spotted about 12:30 p.m. Monday, but weather conditions prevented search and rescue crews and a deputy coroner from reaching the crash site until today.

Once the deputy coroner reached the scene, the identity of the pilot was confirmed as the missing Bowles, and his family was notified.

Palmdale air traffic controllers noticed Sunday that the Piper Cherokee blipped off the radar screen and a search was launched. At about 7 p.m., a Civil Air Patrol pilot reported hearing a possible emergency signal and notified the Sheriff's Department.

The initial search was terminated at nightfall and resumed the following morning, but weather conditions prevented authorities from inserting anybody down to the crash site.