Air Force Rescue Coordination Center received the SARSAT alert and alerted the Idaho Department of Aviation (DOA). Idaho DOA located the aircraft crash near Big Foot Island Airport at Orofino, Idaho. The pilot intended to land at the airport however, while descending the engine quit and the aircraft crashed into the Salmon River and sank. The Pilot had minor injuries.
One SARSAT Rescue
12/26/2008
80 NM south of Jamaica
The crew of the sailing vessel Blue Chip activated their 406 MHz EPIRB when the vessel began taking on water. Coast Guard District 7 launched a fixed wing aircraft which located the distressed vessel and dropped a life raft to the crew. The two people aboard the distressed vessel abandoned ship into the life raft. The Coast Guard aircraft diverted a nearby vessel, named Fuji Day, which picked up the crew from the Blue Chip.
Two SARSAT Rescues
12/20/2008
6 NM south of Block Island, Rhode Island
The sailing vessel Moonshine was caught in an offshore storm, which ripped the vessel’s sails and disabled its propulsion. The crew manually activated their EPIRB. The Coast Guard District 1 received the alert and launched a motor lifeboat and a helicopter to the scene. The helicopter and the boat arrived at about 1 AM, at the SARSAT position. Because of the 30-40 knot winds, the sailboat was drifting out of position. Visibility was poor and the seas were 8 to 12 feet high. The crew of the Moonshine set off a flare, and the rescue crews located the disabled sailboat. The Coast Guard motor lifeboat towed the sailing vessel to near Montauk, New York and transferred the tow to a Station Montauk lifeboat crew who took the Moonshine and crew safely to Montauk. No injuries occurred.
Four SARSAT Rescues
12/19/2008
100 yards offshore Gilchrist, Texas
The Air Force Rescue Coordination Center received a PLB alert and contacted the Texas Governors Emergency Management Office, who in turn contacted the local sheriff. Additionally the Coast Guard District 8 received the SARSAT alert with an encoded position and diverted a helicopter to the position. The helicopter located the vessel and passed the position to the local Sheriff who recovered one person from a vessel which had run aground.
One SARSAT Rescue
12/12/2008
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
The sailing vessel Kekoa with four persons on board was taking on water. The Coast Guard Lantarea Rescue Coordination Center launched a fixed wing aircraft and a helicopter from Elizabeth City, Station. The helicopter picked up all four people. There were no injuries.
Four SARSAT Rescues
12/11/2008
Nuiqsut, Alaska
The Alaska Rescue Coordination Center received the SARSAT alert and relayed the information to the North Slope Borough. The Nuiqsut Search and Rescue volunteers were dispatched to the last Sarsat position that was received. The individual who had checked out the PLB was on a hunting trip when his snow machine became disabled. The hunter was located and returned to Nuiqsut.
