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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MORNING REPORT Monday, September 25, 2006 =============================================================================================================== INCIDENTS Katmai NP Plane Crash With Fatality A DeHavilland Beaver floatplane crashed just after takeoff along the Katmai Coast near Swikshak Lagoon in the northwest part of the park on September 21st, killing one of the passengers and injuring five others. The accident was reported around 2 p.m. that afternoon and a rescue response was coordinated with Kulis Air National Guard. Due to foul weather, high winds and limited fuel, pararescuers had less than five minutes to retrieve the survivors. Four of them were taken to Kodiak by the Air National Guard and the fifth was taken by another airplane to a fishing lodge on Lake Iliamna. Three of the survivors received medical treatment and were later released from the hospital in Kodiak. On September 23rd, a ranger and an Alaska state trooper flew by helicopter from King Salmon to the site of the plane crash. A second helicopter flew from Homer with NTSB, FAA and insurance representatives onboard to investigate the accident. The airplane was found to have broken into several sections. The body of Donald Bator, a retired 62-year-old Massachusetts computer analyst, was removed from the wreckage. Earlier attempts to access the crash site were restricted by extreme weather and wind conditions. [Dona Rutherford, Chief Ranger] Crater Lake NP Bicyclist Killed In Collision With Motorcycle On Saturday, August 19th, M.S. was involved in a head-on collision with a motorcycle on East Rim Drive near Skell Head overlook. M.S., 61, of Roseburg, Oregon, struck the motorcycle immediately after turning onto East Rim Drive at the beginning of the “Rim to Roseburg Century Ride.” Responding rangers and firefighters found M.S. unconscious and suffering from severe head and chest trauma. They were assisted in treating him by a doctor and a nurse who were also on the ride. M.S. was flown by helicopter to a hospital in Medford, Oregon, where he remained unconscious until he died on September 6th. Investigators determined that M.S. was traveling against traffic in the southbound lane as he turned onto East Rim Drive. A front tire blowout may also have contributed to the accident. No criminal charges will be filed. M.S. was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. [Dave Brennan, Chief Ranger] Andersonville NHS Break In at National Prisoner of War Museum When park staff opened the Prisoner of War Museum early last Friday morning, they discovered that someone had thrown a rock through a large window in the lobby of the museum. The donation box and its contents were found to be missing. The donation box, which is made of clear Plexiglas and is designed in the shape of the POW Museum, was attached to a wooden pedestal. Visitors to the museum place small monetary donations in the box, which are then used to fund a variety of projects to benefit the visiting public. The incident is being investigated by the Macon County Sheriff's Department. [Joan Stibitz, Lead Park Ranger] PEOPLE Yosemite - A celebration of Stan Albright's life was held at the park. HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewcommunityarticle&type=PeopleNews&id=1324" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewcommunityarticle&type=PeopleNews&id=1324 JOBS Buffalo River - An announcement has been issued for an AO. HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewjobdetails&type=Jobs&id=2512" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewjobdetails&type=Jobs&id=2512 * * * * * Prepared by Visitor and Resource Protection, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA. --- ### --- |