Fatal plane crash claims predator control man in Wyoming.

P

Partagas

New member
Today's -15° I would guess might be part of the reason for the crash and certainly made rescue efforts and survivabillity difficult.

Fatal plane crash takes 1 predator control specialist and injures another

Big Horn County Wyoming Sheriff Ken Blackburn has confirmed and released the following information:

"A small aircraft left the Worland airport Wednesday morning Dec. 7th, with 2 occupants on board. The occupants of the aircraft were predator control specialists. The Big Horn County Sheriff’s Department received information that there might be a downed aircraft in Big Horn County at 11:22 A.M. An investigation and search was immediately begun. The investigation confirmed that and ELT was in fact being emitted in the South BHC area."

Wyoming Game & Fish Communications Director Renny MacKay said that these individuals were not employed by or working for a G&F project.

"Wyoming Office of Homeland Security, Big Horn County Search and Rescue, Big Horn County Emergency Management, Big Horn County Coroner, and Big Horn County Sherriff’s Office began a search and with the assistance of REACH Air Medical Service, Park County Sheriff Scott Stewart and Park County Search and Rescue, and Sky Aviation of Worland, the downed aircraft was located in a rugged, remote location in southwest Big Horn County. Medical personnel for the REACH Air Medical Service provided outstanding, immediate medical services until ground resources could arrive on the scene to provide extrication services as both occupants were trapped inside the plane. One person was transported to Billings and is receiving medical services and one person perished at the scene. The cause of death will be determined by the Big Horn County Coroner. No further medical information is available on the survivor at this time. Names are being withheld pending notification of family. The rough terrain and bitter cold weather made rescue efforts hazardous and more difficult. Recovery efforts are continuing at this time.

"The FAA and the NTSB have been notified and are responding. Sherriff’s Department personnel are providing security until the investigating agencies arrive."

We're are working on additional information and will report it as it comes in.
 
I spoke with another pilot in the predator control program who knows both of the men involved in the plane crash. I don't know either of the men and do not feel comfortable putting any information out that may not be public knowledge, but I will say it was a tragic deal. My prayers go out to the family who lost a loved one and I will continue saying prayers for the man who survived and is now facing surgery and a long healing process.


Tex
 
Please accept my prayers also. I have to be grateful for the many days of coyote hunting that I was allowed to partake in while I was a trapper for the SD GF&P Animal Damage Control Program. It was quite the experience being one the gunners in the back seat of our Super-Cub airplanes. Many a story could be told about these aerial hunting escapades, fortunately I was never involved in one of these accidents.
 
FWIW:

According to the Big Horn County Coroner's Office, 34-year-old Grant Belden, of Thermopolis, died at the scene of the crash Wednesday and 56-year-old Miles Hausner survived the crash. Hausner is being treated at a Billings, Montana, hospital.

I spoke with an old timer retired from the predator control board and he was told the pilot was a student pilot practicing gunning runs. That is unofficial and very preliminary. The exact cause is still under investigation.
 
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