Pilot Rescue

It was a typical September day on the isolated northern lake where icy winds and dropping temperatures were warning of weather to come. Father, son and grandson were busy packing up their fishing camp ready to make the flight back to their home community.

While waiting patiently for the Beaver aircraft to pick them up, the winds became increasingly strong and father and son were becoming anxious the aircraft would be unable to land. Relief wasn’t long in coming as the float-equipped Beaver successfully touched down on the lake and effortlessly taxied over to the camp. The pilot scampered out and greeted his passengers while tying up to the dock. This would be a light and easy flight back.

As the lightly loaded plane taxied downwind to ensure sufficient takeoff distance, the pilot kicked over the water rudders and the ailerons in preparation for a 180 degree turn into the wind. In that split second, almost too short to measure, an angry gust of wind flipped the Beaver aircraft, its pilot, passengers and cargo upside down.

The process of the impossible happening is difficult to grasp in that split second. Thankfully, the experienced pilot, who exhibited little panic, was able to instruct the passengers to successfully exit.

Exiting, in this case, led them to the fuselage and the floats – the fuselage for standing and the floats for hanging on! The aircraft finally settled into a resting position and it became very apparent to the well-soaked foursome that the water temperature did not feel much different than the frigid blowing winds.

Drifting at the mercy of the wind, they could only hope they would be pushed to the shoreline. A sickening thud told them that was not to be as they rammed into a mid lake reef. They were stuck! The only way to get to shore now was to swim. In the confusion of the speedy exit, life preservers were still underneath the capsized aircraft, and panic rose as the aircraft continued to bounce on the rocks with the wind.

Would anyone see them? How long could they hang on? Would help be able to arrive soon? The pilot realized that time was not on their side as the effects of hypothermia would not take long to set in.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, a life preserver appeared on the water. Putting his fears aside and realizing that someone had to do something or they would all succumb, the pilot clumsily put on the life preserver, inflated it and headed to shore in an awkward paddle motion.

He spotted some overturned fishing boats not too far from an old fishing cabin so he headed in that direction. He managed to reach one of them, all the while, feeling colder and less able to maneuver. It did not take him long to realize he did not have sufficient strength to turn over the boat – he HAD to warm up before he could do any more to help his passengers.

He swam ashore to the fishing cabin. Luckily, wood and kindling had been left inside, along with matches. The pilot was able to start a fire in the wood stove, calm himself and slowly warm his body. He gathered his strength enough to head back out, turn over a boat and begin paddling back to his water logged passengers.

Again, the winds were working against him and blowing him right past the aircraft. Paddling back to shore, he realized it was hopeless unless he could position himself such that the winds would work with him and not against him.

Father, son and grandson were becoming painfully aware that things were not going well. Hypothermia was beginning to set in and the shaking was becoming uncontrollable. Panic was growing as they hung on – the temperature seemed to be dropping rapidly.

Meanwhile, the pilot, dragging the boat, had trudged up the shoreline to find the right position to head back out. In what seemed like an eternity to all of them, he finally succeeded in paddling the boat close enough to the aircraft to allow the passengers to climb on the boat. Relief to be in the boat was brief, as they still had to get to shore and not one of them had much strength left to give. The adrenalin kicked in and thankfully, they made it to shore and the fishing cabin.

A proper fire was kindled in the cook stove – the pilot, in his earlier confusion, had started his fire in the oven of the cook stove, rather than the burning area. They laughed nervously at this as they huddled together and warmth returned to their bodies. It was official – they were safe and alive.

Again, because the pilot had followed proper company procedures, when he didn’t show up at his expected arrival time, a single float Otter was sent out to look for him and his aircraft. The Otter pilot spotted the submerged Beaver, safely landed on the water, and managed to safely load and return the exhausted men to the home community.

At the very first meeting the adjuster had with the survivors and their family, there was a remarkable outpouring of gratitude towards the pilot. This family had previously lost two members to an icy northern lake and their feelings were heartfelt.

The family asked the adjuster to take this message to the pilot. Their gratitude was overwhelming, even for the adjuster, and it was clear they wanted to meet the pilot and bring him back to the community. They wanted to not only thank him personally, but to have a community tribute to honour his bravery.

The pilot humbly accepted the relayed thank you, but was very clear in that he did not feel he needed to return to the community to be honoured. His shy and quiet personality did not reflect the role of a “hero” and, while he appreciated the gesture, just didn’t feel comfortable at being the centre of all the fuss. Naturally, the family was very disappointed and asked the adjuster to try again – to make all attempts possible to have the pilot return to the community.

This adjuster is happy to report the family got their way. Someone had to fly up the settlement replaced equipment and personal belongings to the three passengers. After numerous discussions, he managed to convince the pilot to accompany him back to the community with the goods.

Father, son, grandson and other family members met them at the airport. Each person individually expressed their appreciation to the pilot and presented him with a small gift of religious significance. He was an absolute hero for saving three members of their family.

You may want to call it gratitude of epic proportions, emotions and tears for their reluctant and humble hero, a Beaver pilot.

Paul W. Greening, CLA, FCIAA, is president of Greening Aviation Claims Inc.