PAC-04-A-021-S 01 MAR 04 (SAR) 210TH RQS, ANCHORAGE CAP, USCG D17
Mission opened in response to FAA reports of a downed aircraft east of Anchorage (ANC). ANC CAP was tasked and diverted a search aircraft from a Homeland Defense training mission. A USCG D17 HC-130 airborne in the area was also tasked to search, however both aircrews were unable to locate any signs of distress nor did they pick up any ELT signals. Subsequently, the 210th RQS was tasked and responded with an HH-60 helicopter and an HC-130. The first aircrew did not find any signs of distress. The second aircrew launched at first light and located the crash site near the Yentna Rriver. The pilot had set up a camp site and was ambulatory and was taken to Providence Hospital in ANC. ANC CAP flew one sortie for 4.7 hours, the USCG D17 HC-130 flew one sortie for 0.5 hours, the 210th RQS HC-130 flew two sorties for 4.7 hours and their HH-60 flew two sorties for 7.8 hours. One save awarded.
PAC-04-A-022-A 03 MAR 04 (ASSIST) BETHEL CAP
Mission opened in response to a request for assistance from the AK State Troopers in Bethel, to search for two missing hunters traveling between Kalskag and Aniak River. Bethel CAP (BET CAP) was tasked and responded with a search aircraft, however they were unable to locate the hunters and returned to Bethel due to poor weather. The next morning, the hunters self-recovered back to their village. BET CAP flew one sortie for 1.9 hours. No credits awarded.
PAC-04-A-023-A 04 MAR 04 (ASSIST) SEWARD CAP
Mission opened in response to a request for assistance from the AK State Troopers (AST) in Seward (SWD), to search for an overdue snowmobiler near SWD. The snowmobiler was last sighted near a steep ravine close to Lost Lake, where he became separated from his group. SWD CAP was tasked and responded with a search aircraft. Shortly after the CAP aircraft departed, AST received a call from civilian volunteers who located the objective. SWD CAP flew one sortie for .5 hours. One other awarded.
PAC-04-A-024-A 06 MAR 04 (ASSIST) KOTZEBUE CAP
Mission opened in response to a request for assistance from the AK State Troopers in Kotzebue (OTZ), to search for an overdue snowmobiler. The snowmobiler departed OTZ for a hunting trip in the Kivalina area, and never returned. OTZ CAP was tasked and responded with a search aircraft. The CAP aircraft assisted a civilian ground search team, which located the overdue snowmobiler who’s snowmobile had broken down. The civilian ground team transported the snowmobiler to Buckland in good health. OTZ CAP flew one sortie for 1.8 hours. One assist awarded.
PAC-04-A-025-S 06 MAR 04 (SAR) KENAI CAP
Mission opened in response to sarsat and aircraft reports of an ELT in the Kenai (ENA) area. ENA CAP was tasked and responded with a ground search team, which located the non-distress ELT in a parked aircraft at a private airstrip in Soldotna. The aircraft’s owner was contacted who then secured the ELT. The ENA CAP ground team searched for 3.0 hours and claimed $20.00 for fuel expenses. No credits awarded.
PAC-04-A-026-S 08 MAR 04 (SAR) ANCHORAGE CAP
Mission opened in response to sarsat reports of an ELT in the Anchorage area. Anchorage CAP (ANC CAP) was tasked and responded with a ground search team, which located and silenced the non-distress ELT, in a hangared airplane at the O’Malley Airstrip. The ANC CAP ground team searched for 1.5 hours and claimed no expenses. No credits awarded.
PAC-04-A-027-A 08 MAR 04 (ASSIST) FAIRBANKS CAP
Mission opened in response to a request for asistance from the AK State Troopers (AST) in Fairbanks, to search for an overdue snowmobiler traveling from Ft Yukon to Beaver. Fairbanks (FAI) CAP was tasked and responded with a search aircraft. The overdue snowmobiler was located by an AST ground team near Ft Yukon, after his snowmobile had broken down. FAI CAP flew one sortie for 2.5 hours. One assist awarded.
PAC-04-A-029-S 12 MAR 04 (SAR) FAIRBANKS CAP
Mission opened in response to aircraft and sarsat reports of an ELT in the Fairbanks area. Fairbanks CAP (FAI CAP) was tasked and diverted an aircraft from a training flight, which localized the ELT to the Fairbanks airport. The FAI CAP aircrew then transitioned to a ground team and located the non-distress ELT in a hangered aircraft and secured it. FAI CAP flew one sortie for 2.4 hours and ground searched for 0.5 hours and claimed no expenses. No credits awarded.
PAC-04-A-030-A 15 MAR 04 (ASSIST) FAIRBANKS CAP
Mission opened in response to a request for assistance from the AK State Troopers (AST) in Fairbanks, to search for an overdue hiker near Nenana. Fairbanks CAP (FAI CAP) was tasked and responded with two search aircraft, which located the overdue hiker near Little Goldstream. The FAI CAP aircrews directed a civilian volunteer ground team to the location and AST coordinated for the recovery of the hiker by tasking the 68th MEDCO (MAST). FAI CAP flew two sorties for 5.0 hours. One save awarded.
PAC-04-A-031-S 16 MAR 04 (SAR) BIRCHWOOD CAP
Mission opened in response to an ELT report from a Birchwood (BCV) CAP aircraft on a training mission near Wasilla. The BCV CAP aircraft was tasked and responded by tracking the ELT signal to a small airfield near the Parks and Glenn highways. The ELT ceased when the CAP aircraft over flew the airstrip. The BCV CAP flew one sortie for 1.0 hours. No credits awarded.
PAC-04-A-033-S 21 MAR 04 (SAR) SEWARD CAP
Mission opened in response to sarsat reports of an emergency beacon in the Seward (SWD) area. SWD CAP was tasked and responded with a search aircraft, which localized the beacon’s signal to the SWD small boat harbor. SWD CAP then deployed a ground search team, which located the non-distress class-b EPIRB in a private vessel, and secured it. SWD CAP flew one sortie for 1.3 hours, and their ground team searched for 2.5 hours and claimed no expenses. No credits awarded.
PAC-04-A-034-S 22 MAR 04 (SAR) BIRCHWOOD CAP & ELMENDORF CAP
Mission opened in response to sarsat reports of an emergency beacon in the Eagle River valley area. Elmendorf CAP (EDF CAP) was tasked and responded with a search aircraft, which localized the beacon`s signal to the Birchwood (BCV) airport. BCV CAP then deployed a ground team, which located the non-distress ELT in a private aircraft at BCV. The aircraft’s owner was notified and subsequently secured the ELT. EDF CAP flew one sortie for 1.5 hours and the BCV CAP ground team searched for 0.5 hours and claimed zero expenses. No credits awarded.
PAC-04-A-035-A 22 MAR 04 (ASSIST) SEWARD CAP
Mission opened in response to a request for assistance from the Anchorage Fire Department (AFD), to locate and assist in the recovery of a man adrift in a small raft near Pt Woronzof near Anchorage. Seward CAP (SWD CAP) was tasked and diverted a search aircraft from a training flight to assist. The SWD CAP aircraft located the objective, and shortly thereafter a Fish and Wildlife Protection (F&WP) helicopter with floats arrived on-scene. The F&WP helicopter was unable to complete the recovery, so a tugboat with an AFD rescue team onboard was directed on-scene by the SWD CAP aircrew. The tugboat recovered the objective, and the SWD CAP aircraft continued with it`s training flight. SWD CAP flew one sortie for 2.5 hours. One save awarded.
PAC-04-A-038-S 24 MAR 04 (SAR) ANCHORAGE CAP
Mission opened in response to FAA reports of an ELT in the Anchorage area. Anchorage CAP (ANC CAP) was tasked and diverted a search aircraft from a training mission. They were unable to locate the source of the ELT, however when they landed at Merrill Field for fuel they learned the non-distress ELT had been located and silenced in a hanger on Merrill Field. ANC CAP flew one sortie for 1.5 hours. No credits awarded.
PAC-04-A-040-S 26 MAR 04 (SAR) BETHEL CAP, FISH & WILDLIFE PROTECTION
Mission opened in response to aircraft and sarsat reports of an ELT in the Cairn Mountain area. Mcgrath Fish and Wildlife Protection (F&WP) was tasked and responded with a search aircraft, which located and silenced the non-distress ELT, in a parked airplane at Sparrevohn. Bethel CAP was also tasked when F&WP initially reported no success in locating the ELT, and responded with a search aircraft, which returned to Bethel when the ELT was located. F&WP flew one sortie for 6.6 hours, and Bethel CAP flew one sortie for 2.0 hours. No credits awarded.
PAC-04-A-041-A 30 MAR 04 (ASSIST) BETHEL CAP
Mission opened in response to a request for assistance from the AK State Troopers (AST) in Bethel (BET), to search for three overdue hunters near Three Step mountain. The hunters had departed BET in a pick-up truck on 28 Mar and failed to return. BET CAP was tasked and responded with a search aircraft, which located the overdue hunters along the Kuskokwim River. Their vehicle had broken down and they had stayed warm by keeping it running. They eventually ran out of fuel, and tried walking to the nearest village 20 miles away. One hunter was ill prepared for the extreme conditions, and had to start a fire every 500 yards to prevent frostbite. The BET CAP aircrew directed an AST aircraft on-scene, which recovered the hunters to BET. BET CAP flew one sortie for 1.6 hours. Two assists and one save awarded.