Two days = two searches

Rick McCusker, WF6O

The middle of June 1998 proved to be a busy period for the Ama- teur Radio operators in the area of St. Helena, Montana.

On 16 June a twin-engine aircraft loaded with mail disappeared during a storm. The plane had been on an instrument approach to Helena Airport and radar contact was lost in a rugged area bordered by Lewis and Clark, Jefferson and Powell counties. 

The ARES net was activated at 2018 local time, and efforts to locate the missing aircraft began. Several Hams moved out with mobile RDF equipment, while others remained at home, hoping to hear a signal from the emergency locating transmitter (ELT). A brief signal was heard, and a bearing was obtained. The Hams and search and rescue units converged on the area, but no other signals were heard.

An Amateur Radio operator was requested by the search coordinator to be at the search headquarters to assist with communications and coordinate assignments with the other Hams in the field. The Hams were sent to several areas during the night where the aircraft could have crashed. RDF gear was sent to each of these areas to monitor for further ELT signals, but nothing was heard.

At 0350, 17 June, the downed aircraft was found, and the Hams were released from the case. The pilot of the aircraft did not survive the crash.

Search two

Forty-eight hours later, another aircraft was reported missing, under similar circumstances. This was also a twin-engine aircraft, and had disappeared about 30 miles northwest of Helena. 

Amateurs were asked to assist in the search. Fixed stations and mobile units monitored the airwaves listening for another ELT signal. A mobile unit equipped with RDF gear and manned by Hams familiar with the area was sent into the area. Attempts to locate the aircraft at night with a ground search and RDF were unsuccessful. 

As in the previous search, a Ham was utilized at search headquarters for coordination of Hams in the field. The command post was moved during the night to the top of a mountain pass in the primary search area, and another Ham, familiar with the area, was assigned to assist at the Rescue Base and to contact the ARES coordinator if more help was needed.

Unfortunately, more assistance was not needed. The search was called off at 0500 when the downed aircraft was spotted by a search plane. Again, the pilot did not survive.

A total of 179 man-hours were put in by the amateurs on these searches, with an undetermined amount of savings to the local governments by using these determined and ready volunteers.

Involved in the searches were: Bill Erhardt, KA7YAO; Dwayne McNeil, KB7SYO; Bill Kornec, KC7CIS; John Curry, KC7EBL; Bob Solomon, KC7KKM; Wes Rowe, KC7PSE; Cliff Smith, KC7QLM; Sam Sperry, KC7VWA; Virgil Roper, KC7WBL; Maureen Fisher, KC7WBO; Donna Shelby, KC7WBP; John Coppick, KC7WLK; Terry Rowe, KC7YOW; Dwight Leonard, KC7ZPK; Brian Smith, KD7BIE; Bill Craft, KF7EP; Bill McGuire, N7MSI; Sherwood Warren, N7MSL; James Haslip, Jr. W7CK; Donald Heide, W7MRI; Stephen Farrell, KC7KKG; Daniel Stinson, KC7KKH; Bill Kornec, Jr. KC7NBU; Ken Clark, KC7RVR; Sandy Durney, KC7UCD, and Richard Weddle, KC7VVZ. ( Ed. Thanks to Bob Solomon, KC7KKM, for submitting the information.)

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