I am on the fire/rescue squad, but was in Edmonton this week, missed the call.
At roughly 09:00 911 got a call from a business, that a piece of a tail from an airplane struck their building. Minutes later 911 got another call, that there was a MAYDAY and for the rescue departments to assemble.
The plane struck the ground at a very steep angle, wings and tail section no where to be found. It was a huge long search to find the plane, Canadian Army base Wainwright had a Hercules and Helicopter searching, coordinating with our department on the ground. My friend Jerry was the 2nd on site, the first repelled from the helicopter. The accident occured in the hills by the Battle River, North East of Wainwright Alberta.
All 5 passengers were in their harnesses, wings and tail gone, GPS set for 27,000 feet, on a heading from Edmonton to Winnipeg. (I didn't know Cessna's could fly that high?) 911 reported the plane lost altitude at a rate of 18,000 feet in 1 minute 30 seconds. Hydraulic failure or control surface failure maybe? Why would the wings and tail be sheared off?
All were dead instantly.
A couple month's ago, a Grandpa was flying with a friend, and the Grandchild on board, they crashed. The baby was the only survivor, strapped into the car seat inverted, and lived 2 days alone.
The pilot of the crash this morning was the son of the Grandpa.
What a horrible day. Jerry told me it is the most gruesome thing he has ever seen, 10 eyes looking at him from inside a smashed cabin, lifeless. I am going to meet with Jerry later, spend some time with him and make sure he is okay.
The funeral for my friend Al is tomorrow. Busy weekend.
At roughly 09:00 911 got a call from a business, that a piece of a tail from an airplane struck their building. Minutes later 911 got another call, that there was a MAYDAY and for the rescue departments to assemble.
The plane struck the ground at a very steep angle, wings and tail section no where to be found. It was a huge long search to find the plane, Canadian Army base Wainwright had a Hercules and Helicopter searching, coordinating with our department on the ground. My friend Jerry was the 2nd on site, the first repelled from the helicopter. The accident occured in the hills by the Battle River, North East of Wainwright Alberta.
All 5 passengers were in their harnesses, wings and tail gone, GPS set for 27,000 feet, on a heading from Edmonton to Winnipeg. (I didn't know Cessna's could fly that high?) 911 reported the plane lost altitude at a rate of 18,000 feet in 1 minute 30 seconds. Hydraulic failure or control surface failure maybe? Why would the wings and tail be sheared off?
All were dead instantly.
A couple month's ago, a Grandpa was flying with a friend, and the Grandchild on board, they crashed. The baby was the only survivor, strapped into the car seat inverted, and lived 2 days alone.
The pilot of the crash this morning was the son of the Grandpa.
What a horrible day. Jerry told me it is the most gruesome thing he has ever seen, 10 eyes looking at him from inside a smashed cabin, lifeless. I am going to meet with Jerry later, spend some time with him and make sure he is okay.
The funeral for my friend Al is tomorrow. Busy weekend.
