Family Finds Plane Wreck After Search Called Off

[Scudrunner]

https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/fam ... rs-missed/

A lot of dumb comments on this one calling the SAR techs incompetent. Try finding a white plane in winter in Canada with snow on the ground.......

[TundraTire]

Not a great look though, within 5 miles of LKP?

[Scudrunner]

Ya agreed, but depending on terrain and cover etc. Its a tough slog, for anyone searching.

[mcrit]

The ELT did not go off and the initial search was made in darkness over heavily wooded terrain. Bad wx moved in the next day and deposited 30-50 cm of snow which was deep enough to cover the tallest pieces of debris. Without an ELT signal, or X-Ray vision, there is only so much that can be done.

That said, had the crew been able to start even a small fire, or other light source that first night, they likely would have been found.

[Squaretail]

Spotting things from the air is way harder than people think. Its as much luck as anything else. If one is really worried about having their airplane found should the worst happen, your best bet is for it to be polished metal, since a reflection off a metal surface can be spotted from a lot farther away than any painted surface.

Thee are better sensors than mk 1 eyeballs for finding these things if they were really serious about it.

[Nark]

AEA47A3E-1CAD-4864-96F7-7178E72A3382.jpeg

Ready to crash anywhere!

[David MacRay]

I remember more than one visual target during practice searches that was extremely easy to see once you found it, yet very difficult before.

I suspect you’re right about the polished aluminum.

By far the easiest thing to see during the day is the flash from a signal mirror.

[Slick Goodlin]

I’ve always found blue tarps are a surprisingly unnatural colour that really stands out in the woods.

[Colonel]

With ADS-B everywhere, anytime there is a crash, everyone instantly knows exactly how, when and where it happened. I'm not sure you really need much more than that.

eg



2,000 foot descent in 6 seconds is 20,000 FPM? Is that expected below 3,000 MSL in a non-airshow environment?

[Slick Goodlin]

ADS-B

But I am poor, sir. Also ADS-B presently no bueno in Canuckistan.