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I received a call last night from a friend at the airport, it was around 6;45 pm, his dad was out flying and was supposed to be back around 5:00 and they were overdue. The 2 pilots in the airplane didn't like to fly at night and right now it starts getting dark around 5ish. He didn't know who to call or what to do to report them being overdue, so I told him that I would make the calls.
I called the tower to get the N-number and verify that the airplane was still gone. The controller gave me the N-number and verified that the airplane had still not returned and they flew west bound towards the Great Salt Lake. With that info I called Flight Service and reported an overdue airplane.
I didn't have much information for Flight Service but I started the process and gave flight service what info I had and the phone number for my friend who had more info. I think that the briefer was surprised that we were calling within an hour and a half for an airplane that had not filed a flight plane for a local flight.
My friend called me around 1030 and asked about driving around out by where his dad was reported to be flying and if he would be able to drive around that area. I recommended that he stay home until it was daylight. Driving around the desert at night, in my opinion, would be dangerous and you would not be able to see much
I received updates from FSS almost every hour for the first 2 hours and after that I think that the family pretty much received further updates. They explained that the process started with verifying with the local tower that the airplane was still missing, Then all of the local airports within 50 miles are asked if they landed there. Next the local sheriff's are sent out to the unincorporated strips to check there. After that, the Air Force Search and Rescue gets involved, they contacted Salt Lake International and had them pull the radar signature and it showed the airplane going down on Fremont Island, which is on the south end of Promitory Point (Golden Spike Monument, where the east meets west trains met) in the Great Salt Lake.
Update as of this morning, they have not been found but there is an Army Blackhawk and CAP flying looking for them. Its not looking good but I am hoping that they are found alive.
SO if you are going flying, make sure SOMEONE knows what area you are going flying and when you plan to be back. It would also help to make sure that person knows what the number is to FSS and that they know the N-number and what color the airplane is and what the cell phone number is for everyone on board. That way if you become overdue, they know when and who to call...
I called the tower to get the N-number and verify that the airplane was still gone. The controller gave me the N-number and verified that the airplane had still not returned and they flew west bound towards the Great Salt Lake. With that info I called Flight Service and reported an overdue airplane.
I didn't have much information for Flight Service but I started the process and gave flight service what info I had and the phone number for my friend who had more info. I think that the briefer was surprised that we were calling within an hour and a half for an airplane that had not filed a flight plane for a local flight.
My friend called me around 1030 and asked about driving around out by where his dad was reported to be flying and if he would be able to drive around that area. I recommended that he stay home until it was daylight. Driving around the desert at night, in my opinion, would be dangerous and you would not be able to see much
I received updates from FSS almost every hour for the first 2 hours and after that I think that the family pretty much received further updates. They explained that the process started with verifying with the local tower that the airplane was still missing, Then all of the local airports within 50 miles are asked if they landed there. Next the local sheriff's are sent out to the unincorporated strips to check there. After that, the Air Force Search and Rescue gets involved, they contacted Salt Lake International and had them pull the radar signature and it showed the airplane going down on Fremont Island, which is on the south end of Promitory Point (Golden Spike Monument, where the east meets west trains met) in the Great Salt Lake.
Update as of this morning, they have not been found but there is an Army Blackhawk and CAP flying looking for them. Its not looking good but I am hoping that they are found alive.
SO if you are going flying, make sure SOMEONE knows what area you are going flying and when you plan to be back. It would also help to make sure that person knows what the number is to FSS and that they know the N-number and what color the airplane is and what the cell phone number is for everyone on board. That way if you become overdue, they know when and who to call...
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