Everglades National Park (FL)
Aircraft Crash with Two Fatalities
On the afternoon of January 31st, a Beechcraft King Air twin engine
plane with two persons on board crashed in a remote wilderness area of
the park. The plane was en route from Marathon airport in the Florida
Keys to Ft. Lauderdale. Eight minutes into the flight, Miami Air Traffic
Control lost radar contact with the plane. The last position showed the
Beechcraft at 5,000 feet but with no forward air speed, indicating that
the plane was likely in a downward spin. There were no radio
communications from the plane to indicate a problem. The plane crashed
in thick vegetation along the northern portion of the Roberts River,
approximately 12 miles north of Flamingo. Indications at the scene are
that the plane crashed nose-first into the ground and disintegrated upon
impact. Unusually heavy winter rain and thunderstorms occurred in the
area on the afternoon of the crash. A Coast Guard helicopter found the
wreckage that evening. Rangers from Flamingo were dispatched by boat to
the area of the crash, but were unable to reach the site due to
darkness, weather and heavy vegetation. Efforts to get a rescue
helicopter to the scene that night that could put someone on the ground
were unsuccessful due to the weather. On February 1st, a park contract
helicopter carrying rangers and personnel from the Monroe County
Sheriff's Office landed at the site. They were able to confirm that the
two occupants — S.Z., 45, and his son, T.Z., 16, of Weston,
Florida — had been killed instantly in the crash. Recovery efforts
were conducted by rangers and fire personnel and continued for three
days. The sheriff's officer and district medical examiner assisted. A
salvage company contracted by the plane's insurance carrier will remove
the aircraft debris from the park. NTSB and FAA investigators will
continue to investigate the cause of the crash.
[Submitted by Curt
Dimmick, Flamingo District Ranger]
Blue Ridge Parkway
Arrest for Felony Drug Distribution
Ranger Greg Johnston stopped to check a vehicle parked at Piedmont
Overlook on December 29th. As he approached it, he smelled marijuana
issuing from its open window. During a search of the vehicle, Johnston
found and seized marijuana, Valium and a .22 caliber derringer hidden in
the driver's purse. E.B. was arrested for drug and firearms
violations and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury on felony
counts of distribution of a controlled substance (21 USC 8419(a)(1)) and
prohibited possession of a firearm (18 USC 922 (g)(3)).
[Submitted
by Chief Ranger's Office]
Lake Mead National Recreation Area (AZ,NV)
Follow-up on Pursuit, Drug Arrest
Last December 18th, rangers and special agents, assisted by Las Vegas
Metro, Henderson PD, and Boulder City PD officers, were involved in a
pursuit and apprehension of A.G. A.G. was driving a stolen
vehicle and had attempted to sell marijuana to a concession employee. He
pled guilty to possession of controlled substance and reckless driving
and was sentenced to six months in jail. The theft/possession of stolen
vehicle charge is pending in state court.
[Submitted by Beth Shott,
Acting Supervisory Special Agent]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Office of International Affairs
DOI International Opportunties in Guatemala
The U.S. Department of the Interior's International Technical Assistance Program (ITAP) is seeking:
[Submitted by Barbara Pitkin, bpitkin@ios.doi.gov, 202-208-5221]Qualified fire management experts to provide approximately 3 weeks of technical assistance in the Sierra de Las Minas Biosphere Reserve in northern Guatemala; and
Qualified ecotourism, trail design, and interpretation experts to provide approximately 3 weeks of technical assistance in the Sierra de Las Minas Biosphere Reserve and Polochic Wildlife Refuge in Guatemala.
Details can be found at http://www.doi.gov/intl/itap/guat_fire.htm and at http://www.doi.gov/intl/itap/guat_tourism.htm
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Partnership Office
National Park Service Partnership Manager
Dates: 02/05/2004 - 03/05/2004
The WASO Partnership Office has a vacancy out for a partnership manager. The position involves serving as manager of the office and being responsible for servicewide coordination between the National Park Service and program partner organizations, including not-for-profit groups (friends organizations, cooperating associations, advocacy organizations), public and private organizations (business community, foundations), national program partners (State Park Directors, National Recreation and Parks Association), and resource specific constituencies and partners.
See www.usajobs.com for more details.[Submitted by Karyn Ferro, karyn_ferro@nps.gov, 202-354-2172] More Information...
Submission standards for the Morning Report can be found on the left side of the front page of InsideNPS. All reports should be submitted via email to Bill Halainen at Delaware Water Gap NRA, with a copy to your regional office and a copy to Dennis Burnett in Division of Law Enforcement and Emergency Services, WASO.
Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement and Emergency Services, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.