Amazing story of survival in WA airplane crash

DE727UPS

DE727UPS

Well-Known Member
http://www.king5.com/story/news/loc...-search-for-overdue-plane-to-lynden/30095235/

"(MAZAMA, Wash.) -- A teen who emerged from the woods in Mazama, WA on Monday was determined to be the 16-year-old girl whose plane went missing over the weekend, the Okanogan Sheriff's office told ABC News.

On Saturday afternoon, a plane carrying an elderly couple and the teenager, Autumn Veatch, took off from Kalispell, Montana, heading to Lynden, Washington, about 150 miles away, but it didn't arrive at its destination.

Officials identified those aboard as Leland and Sharon Bowman of Marion, Montana, and Veatch, of Bellingham, Washington.

Late Monday, Autumn Veatch walked into The Mazama Store in Mazama, Washington.

Late Monday, a motorist spotted her on Highway 20 near mile post 151, Sheriff Frank Rogers told ABC News. She was taken to the Mazama Store nearby.

Her father was notified while she was evaluated by an EMT and said to be in stable condition, Sheriff Frank Roger’s of Okanogan Sheriff’s office tells ABC News.

She was later taken to 3 River's Hospital in Brewster, WA and was being evaluated, a hospital rep told ABC News.

At this time it is unclear how far she had to walk. There has still been no plane wreckage found.

It's unknown if Veatch’s step-grandparents survived."

This is a bit north of me. Very rugged terrain. Lucky girl and pretty smart to follow the canyons down stream.
 
That is good news. That's my backyard and that is very difficult terrain. Amazing that she walked out of there.

But as usual CAP had nothing to do with the successful outcome here. Waste of money and resources. Yet they are going to take all the credit for a successful mission.
 
av8tr1 said:
That is good news. That's my backyard and that is very difficult terrain. Amazing that she walked out of there.

But as usual CAP had nothing to do with the successful outcome here. Waste of money and resources. Yet they are going to take all the credit for a successful mission.
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With your well documented dislike of CAP, I guess that's one jaded way to look at it... But, knowing the PIO involved in the mission, I doubt she's going to tooting the CAP horn.

Glad that the girl has turned up safely. However, the search continues for the step-grandparents and wreckage. The last update is that CAP has been called off in favor of Navy helicopters more suited to the terrain. Let's hope they are successful.
 
av8tr1 said:
That is good news. That's my backyard and that is very difficult terrain. Amazing that she walked out of there.

But as usual CAP had nothing to do with the successful outcome here. Waste of money and resources. Yet they are going to take all the credit for a successful mission.
Click to expand...
Highly doubtful. CAP units cannot claim a "find" when their was none. Obviously, they didn't find the survivor and as far as I know, haven't yet located the aircraft. It can be very difficult from a fixed-wing aircraft, even when the crash site location is known.

USAF takes a very dim view of CAP units/officials claiming finds when there weren't any. Worse case scenario is that USAF disallows said unit from conducting SAR activities.

MercFE said:
With your well documented dislike of CAP, I guess that's one jaded way to look at it... But, knowing the PIO involved in the mission, I doubt she's going to tooting the CAP horn.

Glad that the girl has turned up safely. However, the search continues for the step-grandparents and wreckage. The last update is that CAP has been called off in favor of Navy helicopters more suited to the terrain. Let's hope they are successful.
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That often happens here in NM. Either the NM-ARNG or the 58th SOW will go in and locate the crash if fixed wing assets can't (CAP or otherwise). Helos can fly slower and slower but cost tremendously more to operate.
 
It'll be a Lifetime Original in 6 months, and they'll somehow tie it a man hating aspect to it.

Good for her though. She sounds like a little bad ass spirit.
 
mshunter said:
Good for her though. She sounds like a little bad ass spirit.
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No joke... earlier I said she was "lucky" but it was definitely more than luck that got her out of that scenario alive and well.That's one tough kid (or young woman now I guess).
 
I could not believe this when I heard the news. Too bad about her grandparents but I am happy for her and her parents. I could not even imagine the rollercoaster of emotions that they ate all going through right now.
 
DE727UPS said:
http://www.king5.com/story/news/loc...-search-for-overdue-plane-to-lynden/30095235/

"(MAZAMA, Wash.) -- A teen who emerged from the woods in Mazama, WA on Monday was determined to be the 16-year-old girl whose plane went missing over the weekend, the Okanogan Sheriff's office told ABC News.

On Saturday afternoon, a plane carrying an elderly couple and the teenager, Autumn Veatch, took off from Kalispell, Montana, heading to Lynden, Washington, about 150 miles away, but it didn't arrive at its destination.

Officials identified those aboard as Leland and Sharon Bowman of Marion, Montana, and Veatch, of Bellingham, Washington.

Late Monday, Autumn Veatch walked into The Mazama Store in Mazama, Washington.

Late Monday, a motorist spotted her on Highway 20 near mile post 151, Sheriff Frank Rogers told ABC News. She was taken to the Mazama Store nearby.

Her father was notified while she was evaluated by an EMT and said to be in stable condition, Sheriff Frank Roger’s of Okanogan Sheriff’s office tells ABC News.

She was later taken to 3 River's Hospital in Brewster, WA and was being evaluated, a hospital rep told ABC News.

At this time it is unclear how far she had to walk. There has still been no plane wreckage found.

It's unknown if Veatch’s step-grandparents survived."

This is a bit north of me. Very rugged terrain. Lucky girl and pretty smart to follow the canyons down stream.
Click to expand...

I read about this from another source. I may be way off base, but my reaction was... something seems fishy. Maybe I just don't trust Goths.
 
I am a SAR guy here in Washington, and have been close to the events since Sunday AM. If you read the media coverage, guess what, it's very accurate. Per interviews and county ground team locating the site....she did survive a two day ordeal in the mountains, following the CFIT loss of the Bonanza and family. A second aircraft was reporting missing on Tuesday, actual incident of CFIT also occurred on Saturday, just delayed reporting. Both in close proximity to the Northern Cascades Highway.

CAP played a critical role with providing mountain flying crews and they were successful on many levels working with the lead agencies.
 
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