September 1, 2012
On Friday August 31st at 1337 CCSAR was notified on a downed plane in the San Isabel National Forest. Capt. Pruiksma was told that the plane was thought to be down in Custer County but Pueblo County was already taking the mission lead. Pueblo county was told what resources were available what resources were needed. Pueblo asked for everything we had. We found out before dispatching from the SAR barn that two law enforcement individuals from Pueblo were in that small plane when it crashed. The exact area of the crash at this time was not known.
CCSAR dispatched six ATVs with riders along with eight ground members and three horses and their riders to a predetermined site set up by Pueblo law enforcement.
It appeared to those at Custer Search Base that several Latitude/Longitude datum were being used and following on a map was confusing. Just before darkness set in a Custer team of three reached the site of the downed plane. FBI agents along with Flight For Life (FFL) personnel had arrived at the seen approximately 30 minutes prior. At this time CCSAR base was able to determine exactly where the plane along with everyone else was. Base was then able to help direct everyone back to the Cisneros trail where ATVs were waiting for them.
Several members of FFL and law enforcement were not prepared for the walk out and did not have food and water. Our SAR team was able to share water and snacks with them. Some were treated at Field Base with IVs.
All SAR members returned to base by 0130 Saturday, September 1.
