RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                           MORNING REPORT

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

Day/Date:	 Thursday, December 12, 1991

INCIDENTS

91-654 - Lake Mead (Nevada) - Follow-up on Search for Missing Plane

The wreckage of the Las Vegas Airlines Piper Navajo Chieftain was found by 
Lake Mead search aircraft early yesterday morning just below the summit of 
5,445-foot Mount Wilson, about eight miles east of Hoover Dam.  All five 
persons aboard were killed in the crash.  The twin-engine plane apparently 
crashed in bad weather around 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, about the time that air 
traffic controllers lost radar and radio contact with it.  A search team 
dropped by helicopter into the rugged site found the bodies of the pilot 
and his four passengers.  National Transportation Safety Board inspectors 
are en route to the scene.  [Telefax from Gary Bunney, Assistant 
Superintendent, LAME, 12/11; United Press, 12/12]

91-655 - C&O Canal (Maryland) - Assault on Ranger

On the afternoon of November 30th, ranger Tom Nash saw five men dressed in 
hunting clothes - three of them carrying shotguns - walking along the 
towpath near Milepost 38.  When they saw Nash approach in his patrol 
vehicle, they began to run.  Backup units were requested and a foot chase 
began.  Nash was able to apprehend three of the five men, including two 
with weapons.  R.A. and J.W. were handcuffed, but T.A. 
was combative.  When Nash attempted to arrest T.A.  with the aid of 
a Maryland Department of Natural Resources officer, T.A.  assaulted Nash 
with hands, elbows and feet.  T.A.  was subdued and handcuffed after a 
brief struggle.  A records check revealed that T.A.  was a convicted felon 
and that he had a long criminal record for assaulting police officers.  He 
was charged with assaulting an officer and being a felon in possession of a 
firearm.  R.A., who was wanted by local police on a theft charge, was 
charged with possession of a weapon and with fleeing and eluding an officer.  
J.W. was charged with fleeing and eluding.  [Telefax from Tom Nash, CHOH, 
12/11]

91-656 - Amistad (Texas) - Drowning

Late on the evening of December 6th, a local sheriff's office received a 
report from a man who reported that his wife, V.M., 50, was missing 
and that he was concerned because of her mental state.  A search was begun, 
and her body was found in the lake within a few hours.  The coroner ruled 
her death an accidental drowning.  Rangers were not notified of the 
incident until they learned of it informally on December 8th.  V.M. was 
under treatment for a panic disorder and was taking medication for
manic-depression.  She had a history of mixing drugs and alcohol, and had 
recurring violent seizures.  On April 18th, rangers had pulled V.M. from 
the lake and had administered advanced life support until an ambulance 
arrived at the scene.  At that time, her blood alcohol content was .70, and 
the incident was ruled an attempted suicide.  Rangers will contact the 
coroner's office to determine if the cause of death will be questioned.  
[Phil Selleck, AMIS, via telefax from Jim Radney, LES, RAD/SWRO, 12/9]

91-657 - Shenandoah (Virginia) - Poaching Arrest

A backcountry ranger discovered an illegal bear trap while on patrol in the 
Grindstone area of the park on the afternoon of December 7th.  This area, 
which is situated on the west side of the Central District, is one of the 
most remote and rugged areas of the park.  Numerous ATV trails were also 
observed leading into the area from private land.  The culvert type trap 
was baited with the remains of a deer carcass.  When the trap was checked 
again on the morning of the 8th, it was found to contain a live bear.  
Around the clock surveillance of the location was begun at this time.  
Because of the are's remoteness, law enforcement safety concerns and the 
unknown length of surveillance time required, a regional SET team was 
requested and was dispatched to the park.  Just after noon on the 9th, a 
male approached the trap carrying a plastic bag of apples.  The man, who 
was identified as V.C., a local resident, was arrested.  V.C. 
has been suspected of numerous poaching and illegal hunting incidents over 
the past 10 to 15 years.  He will be charged with illegal taking of 
wildlife, possession of a firearm, and off-road vehicle use; other charges 
may be filed pending the outcome of an investigation which is now underway.  
Seized during the arrest was a loaded firearm, a four-wheel ATV, and a 1978 
Chevy pickup.  Attempts are being made to obtain a search warrant for his 
residence.  [Telefax from Glen Knight, SHEN, 12/10]

91-658 - Mammoth Cave (Kentucky) - Assaults at Job Corps Center

On December 5th, rangers began investigating a series of assaults resulting 
in physical injuries which had occurred the previous day in student 
dormitories at the Great Onyx Job Corps Center.  Interviews with victims 
and witnesses of these assaults implicated three adult students.  The 
center's management staff and investigating officials felt that renewed 
violence was possible if the three suspects remained at the center, so all 
three were advised of the board of review rights and placed on 
administrative leave.  They were transported from the center shortly 
thereafter.  The investigation is continuing.  The U.S. attorney's office 
will be consulted regarding possible criminal prosecution.  [Telefax from 
Steve Alscher, LES, RAD/SERO, 12/9]

STAFF STATUS

Division Chief: No leave or travel scheduled.

Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection: Marriott at ARPA training course, 
Marana, AZ (12/9-12/13); Lee at law enforcement for managers course, FLETC, 
Glynco, GA (12/9-12/13).

Branch of Fire and Aviation: Spruill conducting aviation review, Hawaii 
(12/9-12/17); Gale serving as incident commander for 50th anniversary of 
Pearl Harbor, U.S.S. Arizona Memorial, HI (12/9-12/12).

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