Family Needs our Help

[Zuri]

I am so glad they found the plane against almost all odds. It is of some comfort that they perished together. My heartfelt sympathies to the families.

 

[OkieGranny]

The lady who sent searchers to the right spot was a 61-year-old grandma!

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2014/01/12/2968832/strangers-collaborated-to-find.html

“I don’t specifically look for an image of plane. I’ve learned over time that metal and glass reflect back to the camera and the satellite image, and that’s what I’m looking for,” said Gustin, who has made a hobby of studying satellite and video images since record-setting aviator Steve Fossett went missing in the Nevada desert in 2007.

In the two images she posted at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, she used red arrows to point to reflective objects on the ground.

The eagle-eyed Canadian woman, who sometimes uses a magnifying glass, helped bring a search team on the ground to within two-tenths of a mile of the wreckage, according to the team’s search report. The bright reflection Gustin saw wasn’t the plane — possibly ice in the trees — but searchers came across the plane as they continued along the ridge.

Found on Antimony Ridge, 1.7 miles from the north end of Johnson Creek’s airstrip.

 

[Tricia]

Dear Websletuhs Members,

Thank you for all your hard work. Although this story had a tragic ending it is very heartwarming to read how many people from all over the world tried to find the family.

Thank you so very much.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family as they deal with this tragedy.

Tricia

 

[dotr]

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/57394709-78/smith-plane-bodies-crash.html.csp

"Weather permitting, we may have something for you [Tuesday evening]," Snapp said, noting intermittent storms had often stymied earlier search efforts and could delay the present effort to recover the bodies.

Snapp confirmed that because of the rugged, icy and snowpacked conditions where the plane was found last Friday afternoon, plans include the possible use of a helicopter to remove the remains. The wreckage itself was to be left behind for now"

 

[dotr]

http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking...-who-found-idaho-plane-crash-reveals-gripping

"SAN JOSE -- Dellon Smith and seven men searching for his brother's downed plane were so discouraged after spending half the day thigh-deep in snow on a false lead deep in the Idaho wilderness, they were almost ready to give up until the spring thaw.

But with a couple hours of daylight left Friday -- and seven weeks behind them of searching for Dale Smith and four members of his San Jose family -- they decided to give it one more try. Exhausted and trudging on snowshoes, Smith and his search partner, Arthur Stock, descended the west side of Antimony Ridge.

Then they saw it: the airplane's wing thrusting up through the snow."

 

[dotr]

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/57399939-78/crash-bodies-smith-dayton.html.csp


"Four bodies recovered, 1 remains at central Idaho plane crash site
Slow, snowy » Helicopter used to pull victims from rugged, snowy crash site."

"The last of five bodies found in the wreckage of a December plane crash in remote central Idaho was expected to be recovered on Wednesday.

Alan Dayton, the Salt Lake City uncle of one of the victims of the crash about 100 miles northeast of Boise, said Valley County sheriff’s deputies, search and rescue volunteers and family were able to retrieve four of the bodies Tuesday evening.


"They just ran out of time" before darkness fell, said Dayton, whose nephew Jonathan Norton was among the victims recovered. Norton’s fiance, Amber Smith, was believed to be the final victim awaiting recovery on Wednesday.

"They have four people recovered. We think Amber is still out there, but the searchers are pretty sure they know right where she is based on the signals the [search] dogs were giving," Dayton said"

 

[dotr]

http://www.ktvb.com/news/Searcher-r...ooking-for-plane-crash-victims-240674561.html

"VALLEY COUNTY -- Arthur Stock camped for weeks, enduring frigid temperatures in the Idaho wilderness to help search for plane crash victims he'd never know.

Since the first of December, the Smith and Norton families had been searching for five of their loved ones who went missing when pilot Dale Smith's airplanes vanished in the Idaho wilderness.

Both families asked for Idahoans who knew the area to assist in search efforts after the Valley County Sheriff's Office scaled back their involvement in the search.

Arthur Stock felt destined to respond to the call".