Spouse of Karen Brown
Taken from article on website: www.montereysar.org/SARMembersDocs/AMRO_rev08.pdf
"Accidents in Mountain Rescue Operations" by Charley Shimanski
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."
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.
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.
Spouse of Karen Brown
Taken from article on website: www.montereysar.org/SARMembersDocs/AMRO_rev08.pdf
"Accidents in Mountain Rescue Operations" by Charley Shimanski
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."
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.
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.
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