Pilot rescued after nearly two days in backcountry

5-12-05

After spending nearly two days in the North Central Idaho backcountry, Paul Herr, 54, Pasco, was found alive near his downed plane Wednesday morning.

According to Nick Albers, Back Country Medics (formerly North Idaho Back Country Medical Rescue Team), they were called out to do an air search by Idaho County Sheriff Larry Dasenbrock Monday shortly after the plane Herr was piloting developed engine trouble and dropped off the radar. Unfortunately, weather prevented launching the air search until Wednesday morning. While rescuers waited for the weather to clear, they worked on assessments of where the downed plane would most likely be. They used information about where he was when the trouble was reported, what heading he had been given and that he was 9,200 feet above sea level at that point.

Albers, Neal Johnson, Mary Ann McLaughlin and pilot Ray Reel flew with Back Country Medics.

Back Country Medics were joined in the search by Civil Air Patrol. Based on the assessments they had done, Back Country Medics was searching the north side of the Hamby Creek drainage when they heard the ELT from the downed plane. They first spotted a piece of the internal wing structure on a limb near the top of a tree. They worked from there to find the plane. The helicopter landed on a road in the area. Members of the team walked in to find the pilot by Hamby Creek. The crash scene is above Fenn Ranger Station south of the Selway River, Albers said.

Due to the trees and bushes in the area, Idaho County Posse members needed to clear a landing zone for the helicopter closer to the crash. They were flown in by helicopter. CAP members and cadets assisted with clearing the landing zone and carrying Herr across Hamby Creek to the helicopter.

Herr had apparent cuts, abrasions and bruises, Albers said. The pilot was flown to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center for further evaluation of possible injuries.

Albers described the rescue as a good team effort that reflects what the back country team has done in the past and continues to do.

Reel will be flying out the pieces of the wreckage Friday.

Photos above: Top--Left wing of the aircraft. Middle--Idaho County Sheriffs Posse clearing the landing zone for the helicopter. Bottom--Hillcrest Aircraft helicopter (Back Country Medics) landing in the area that was cleared. Notice Hamby Creek in the right foreground.