NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

Attention: Directorate
           Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
           Ranger Activities Division Information Network

Day/Date:  Friday, May 1, 1992

INCIDENTS

92-156 - Sequoia/Kings Canyon (California) - Employee Fatality

Kings Canyon seasonal maintenance employee Jill Ratchford was killed on
April 26th when her car left California Highway 180 several miles outside
the park, overturned and came to rest in the South Fork of the Kings River. 
Rangers and maintenance staff assisted Sierra National Forest, California
Highway Patrol and Fresno sheriff's department officers at the accident
scene.  Jill was the daughter of Paul Ratchford, an employee of the Kings
Canyon maintenance division.  [Mike Warren, SEKI, via SEAdog message from
Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 4/29]

92-157 - Great Smokies (North Carolina/Tennessee) - Fatal Air Crash

On the evening of April 26th, Civil Air Patrol (CAP) authorities reported
that they were receiving radio signals from an aircraft emergency locator
transmitter which appeared to be originating from the park.  CAP and park
personnel drove park roads until 3:30 a.m. in an unsuccessful attempt to
pinpoint the origin of the signals.  At 4:30 a.m., the park received word
from CAP and FAA officials that two aircraft had been reported missing and
that either or both could be in the park.  The search for the signal
continued on the 27th.  Due to an inch of new snow, extreme overcast and
fog, the search was confined to the ground and efforts to pinpoint the
signal continued to be unsuccessful.  Early in the afternoon, a private
helicopter spotted the wreckage of a Cessna 310 near Clingman's Dome, the
highest point in the park at 6,643 feet, but was unable to provide detailed
location information to the incident command team.  Weather on Tuesday again
precluded the use of aircraft.  Ranger and CAP ground teams, hampered by
fog, a foot of new snow, steep terrain and thick vegetation (known locally
as "rhododendron hells") remained unable to locate the wreckage despite
strong signals on directional finding equipment.  Clear weather on the
morning of the 29th made it possible for a Bell 206 helicopter to direct a
ground team to the crash site.  The wreckage was near the 5,800-foot
elevation a half mile north-northeast of the Clingman's Dome observation
tower.  The ELT antenna had broken off on impact.  The pilot and sole
occupant, M.W., 23, of Cartersville, Georgia, had been thrown about
75 feet from the wreckage and had suffered fatal injuries.  The body was
removed by helicopter long-line and was transported to a local hospital.  A
total of 28 park and 23 CAP personnel were involved in the search effort
along with two fixed-wing CAP aircraft and two helicopters.  Representatives
from the FAA, NTSB, insurance company, and engine and aircraft manufacturers
are on site to investigate the cause.  M.W. had experience as a pilot
and aircraft mechanic and was rated for IFR, but filed no flight plan and
apparently remained at a relatively low altitude during the flight. 
Although an OAS-authorized temporary flight restriction was not put into
effect over the area, an overflight by a local helicopter tour operator
caused enough interference to warrant a contact by park authorities. 
Despite an agreement to comply with a request to maintain a two to three
mile perimeter around the site, a second helicopter from the same business
overflew the site later in the day.  The FAA has been advised.  (Note: The
second missing aircraft reported by FAA was found near Mt. Mitchell off Blue
Ridge Parkway on April 27th.  Two people were killed in that crash). 
[CompuServe message from Jason Houck, CR, GRSM, 4/30]

92-158 - Yosemite (California) - Structural Fire

Yosemite dispatch received a 911 call from a visitor in the Wawona area
reporting a rental cabin on fire early on the afternoon of April 28th. 
Responding park personnel found the structure fully involved, with the fire
spreading to a pickup truck and surrounding trees.  A nearby residence was
protected, an adjacent propane tank was successfully cooled down, and the
fire was kept from spreading.  Caustic fumes from the burning vehicle and
hazardous live power lines provided additional concerns during suppression
efforts.  The cabin occupants were able to exit the cabin safely, but the
husband and a park employee living next to the structure were treated and
released on scene for smoke inhalation.  The cabin, which is valued at
$175,000, is a total loss, as was the $22,000, three-day-old pickup.  The
cause of the fire is under investigation by Yosemite investigators and the
California fire marshall's office.  [Pat Hattaway, YOSE, via SEAdog message
from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 4/29]

92-159 - Independence (Pennsylvania) - Special Event; Drug Arrest

On April 30th, the Pennsylvania branch of N.O.R.M.L. (National Organization
for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) and C.A.N. (Cannabis Action Network) held
a gathering under permit to conduct a "symposium on the validity of the
current administration's 'War on Drugs'" and distribute literature regarding
the legalization of marijuana.  The group had used the park several times in
the past.  Seven or eight years ago, the group's permit was revoked after
they tried to distribute free marijuana to passersby and 13 arrests were
made.  Last year, ranger confiscated a three-and-a-half-foot marijuana plant
from the group, but no arrests were made.  Despite specific warnings that
the park planned on strictly enforcing all applicable drug laws, members of
the group were found smoking marijuana on park property during the event. 
Rangers Jeff Carlisle and John Hopf approached those who were smoking the
drug and advised them that they were being arrested for possession and use
of a controlled substance.  Member of the group began converging on the
rangers and encircling them; the rangers called for backup, and three
uniformed, one plain clothes and two off-duty rangers responded and assisted
in the arrest.  The crowd was vocal, but did not directly interfere with the
four arrests that were made.  They were cuffed and taken to the district
office for processing; three were cited for possession of controlled
substances, then all were released.  No further incidents occurred, and a
decision was made not to revoke the group's permit.  A member of the group
had a video camera and taped the incident.  That tape was expected to appear
on the local evening news.  [Telefax from Bob Byrne, CR, INDE, 4/30]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Great Smokies (Tennessee/North Carolina) - Red Wolf Reintroduction

On April 27th, six pups were born to a pair of endangered red wolves (Canis
rufus) in an acclimation pen near the Cades Cove area of the park.  The
parents have been in the pen since January, 1991, but did not produce young
last year.  This family will probably be released from the pen late this
summer.  Current plans are to acclimate an additional red wolf family for
release this fall.  An adult female red wolf and her two yearling female
pups, each bearing a radio transmitter, are currently loose in the same
area.  Since this is still an experimental program and the park is still
gathering information on interaction with coyotes, this family will be
recaptured prior to this summer's release.  The adult male of the family was
recaptured earlier this year, as it was found that he was too tame after
spending eight of his ten years in captivity.  While occasional trips
outside the park have been documented, the wolves are spending the majority
of their time within the park.  The release is a joint project between the
NPS and USFWS.  SCA caretakers are providing daily care of the penned
animals.  [Joe Abrell, Chief of Science and RM, GRSM]

STAFF STATUS

Division Chief: Brady at management retreat, Prince William, VA (5/1).

Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection: Martin at management retreat,
Prince William, VA (5/1); Marriott at Operation North Star annual
conference, Seattle, WA (4/27-4/29).

Branch of Fire and Aviation: No travel information available.

Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities

Telephone:  Branch of R&VP - FTS 268-4874/6039 or 202-208-4874/6039
            Branch of F&A (WASO) - FTS 268-5572/5573 or 202-208-5572/5573

Telefax:    Branch of R&VP - FTS 268-6756 or 202-208-6756
            Branch of F&A (WASO) - FTS 268-5977 or 202-208-5977

CompuServe: Branch of R&VP - WASO-RANGER
            Branch of F&A (WASO) - WASO-FIRE-WO

SEAdog:     Branch of R&VP - 1/650
            Branch of F&A (WASO) - 1/655