A family of three, including a 2-year-old girl, had a miraculous escape when their small plane crashed into some trees in Whitethorn, California on Friday.
The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) reported that the incident happened after the aircraft lost engine power just five minutes after take-off. The pilot, who noticed the plane’s altitude was too low for recovery, quickly deployed the airplane’s Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS). This system slowed the plane’s descent and ultimately saved the lives of the passengers.
In a statement released by the MCSO, it was revealed that the parachute carried the airplane until it crashed into some trees in a heavily wooded area of Yellow Road in Whitethorn. Despite the challenging terrain, all three occupants of the aircraft sustained only minor injuries, thanks to the plane’s built-in parachute system.
This is the second small plane crash that the Shelter Cove Fire Department has responded to in the last two years. Fortunately, both incidents resulted in minor injuries and no fatalities, although two aircraft were destroyed.
View this post on Instagram
Shelter Cove Fire Department also released a statement on their Instagram account, praising the quick thinking and actions of the pilot. They stated that “Even with the parachute, the parties involved were extremely fortunate to only receive minor injuries.”
Photographs released by the Fire Department show the wrecked plane and its parachute caught up in the trees about 100 feet from the ground. It is truly a miracle that the passengers only sustained minor scratches and abrasions.
The Mendocino County Sheriff’s spokesperson, Capt. Quincy Cromer, described the incident as a “worst-case scenario.” He also stated that “the fact that they had only minor scratches and abrasions is a miracle.” According to KGO-TV, CBS News, and KNTV, the passengers were a family of two adults and a 2-year-old child. However, MCSO has not confirmed their identities or their relationship with each other.
The MCSO also reported that deputies from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, the California Highway Patrol, CalFire, Southern Humboldt Tech Rescue, and members of the Whale Gulch, Shelter Cove, and Whitethorn Fire Departments all assisted in the rescue. This shows the swift response and teamwork of emergency services in saving the lives of the passengers.
It is important to note that the CAPS system is designed to be a last resort in case of emergencies, and it is not a substitute for proper maintenance and careful piloting. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will be investigating the incident to determine the cause of the engine failure.
The families and loved ones of the passengers are undoubtedly grateful for their miraculous escape. It is a testament to the effectiveness of the CAPS system, as well as the skill and quick thinking of the pilot, that all three passengers survived with only minor injuries.
