WA WA - Ed Jeffko, 72, Tonasket, 23 July 2012 - Missing pilot and plane

[GateKeeper]

Do you know if he had a 121.5 MHz ELTs or a 406 MHz ELT.

Reason I am asking is, 121.5 MHz ELTs activate properly in only 12% of crashes, and provide no identification data.

Also 121.5 MHz ELTs Ground station dependent;
ground stations have an effective

radius of about 1800 nm (2300 km). Both ground station and beacon​

must be in satellite footprint.

Initial position uncertainty result in 500 sq. nm
(800 sq. km) search area on average.​

No GPS capability.

He has a 406 MHz ELT...
BUT,we've now learned that it wasnt working. Ed told a friend that he was aware that it wasnt working..that friend then reported this info to the authorities after Ed went missing.
Im in the process of finding out what else may be on the plane..parachute etc.

 

[GateKeeper]

http://www.gazette-tribune.com/main.asp?SubSectionID=5&ArticleID=2701&SectionID=5

I know the mods dont like non MSM links..but this is the "home town" paper. It has a wonderful article and a great pix of Ed and his lovely wife.

If this link isnt cool with the mods,then I understand.

 

[GateKeeper]

Im hoping a mod. can help me change his age in the header. Ed is 72 years old...NOT in his 60s.
Spring Chicken!

Thanks for the help!

 

[GateKeeper]

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/3rd-day-of-search-for-missing-home-built-plane--163884056.html

WENATCHEE, Wash. (AP) - The Washington state Aviation Division continues to search Thursday for a plane that failed to arrive Monday on a flight from Tonasket to Sequim.

 

[GateKeeper]

http://www.q13fox.com/news/kcpq-wenatchee-plane-search-20120724-001,0,7095068.photo

Ok..here is a "not so great" map. I wish I knew how to blow it up bigger for ya'll to see. I need posting lessons...sorry.

 

[GateKeeper]

http://www.wunderground.com/history...onasket&req_state=WA&req_statename=Washington

TONASKET WEATHER 7-23-12
[Mean Temperature 66 °F 74 °F
Max Temperature 77 °F 90 °F 107 °F (2006)
Min Temperature 54 °F 59 °F 44 °F (1964)
Wind Wind Speed 7 mph (NNW)
Max Wind Speed 18 mph Max Gust Speed 23 mph
Visibility 10 miles
Events Rain
Moisture
Dew Point 51 °F
Average Humidity 65
Maximum Humidity 93
Minimum Humidity 36

SEQUIM WETHER 7-23-12
Actual Average Record
Temperature
Mean Temperature 56 °F -
Max Temperature 62 °F 69 °F 91 °F (2004)
Min Temperature 52 °F 52 °F 45 °F (1965)
Wind
Wind Speed 6 mph (NW)
Max Wind Speed 10 mph
Max Gust Speed 17 mph
Visibility 10 miles
Moisture
Dew Point 51 °F
Average Humidity 82
Maximum Humidity 93
Minimum Humidity 72

 

[taagean]

I sincerely hope Ed is found. I used to work in a search and rescue squadron when I was in the military and these searchers, military and civilian, will do everything they can to find him.

 

[northxnorthwest]

The weather the day he left seems totally fine? I mean I don't know much about flying but we have worse days in WA and I'm sure people still fly small aircrafts. There must have been a problem with the way the plane was working. I hope there are many searchers out there looking for him and his plane. Are the searchers volunteers or do you have to be in a search and rescue team? Are there any state services searching other then the aviation one in the news article? I know WA has to have several more mountain search and rescue teams as hikers go missing often.

I really hope Ed is found soon. At least it's summer time and not cold in the mountains which makes it easier to survive if he has to crash land. I'm trying to think positively because it is totally possible he could have survived the crash especially if he was an experienced pilot I would think he would know how to get the plane down as safe as he could.

I do not think he made it past the Cascade mountains because on the western side of them is very populated (although there are some more rural areas) but someone would have noticed by now if a plane crashed nearby - same thing goes with the Puget Sound (someone would have saw the plane go into the water and hopefully call 911/coast guard/whatever).

 

[GateKeeper]

Thanks northxnorthwest..
Here is bit more info on the search.

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/a...7279989/plane-search-continues-no-clues-found

The Civil Air Patrol on Thursday assigned two additional aircraft to the eight used in the search for the single-engine Glasair, flown by Edward Jeffko, 72, of Tonasket, said a Department of Transportation Aviation Division spokeswoman
Searching in Cascades

The younger Jeffkos closed their deli Wednesday to join in a ground search for Edward and his kit-built plane in the Cascade Mountain Range.

The overall search area includes the most likely routes between Tonasket and Sequim, including a stretch of the Cascade Mountains and areas over Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Marvel said.

 

[GateKeeper]

http://trailslive.com/wordpress/201..._campaign=we-need-your-help-to-find-ed-jeffko

If you’d like to get directly involved in the search call 360.651.6300. If you have any information that may help search teams, like a craft sighting, please call 360.410.7757 or email [email protected].

He’s out there somewhere right now and he needs us to find him!

Lets find Ed!

 

[GateKeeper]

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2012/jul/27/still-no-sign-of-missing-pilot/

Still no sign of missing pilot

EAST WENATCHEE — Eight planes will be in the sky today searching for a plane that left Tonasket Airport Monday morning and never reached Sequim
Searchers will continue to fly over Jeffko’s possible flight routes and the eastern slopes of the Cascades, Tom Peterson, incident spokesman for the state Department of Transportation said this morning from search headquarters set up at Pangborn Memorial Airport.

 

[hambirg]

Oh Gatekeeper, I'm so sorry. I'm sure you know, that it is not unusual for small planes to go down going over the Cascades. I had a friend in college (late 80's) that was killed along with her brother and his friend(pilot) going from Ellensburg to Bellingham.

What worries me about this case is his age. I fear he had a medical emergency. . .and he was flying alone, correct? Do you know if he had a cell phone?

 

[GateKeeper]

Oh Gatekeeper, I'm so sorry. I'm sure you know, that it is not unusual for small planes to go down going over the Cascades. I had a friend in college (late 80's) that was killed along with her brother and his friend(pilot) going from Ellensburg to Bellingham.

What worries me about this case is his age. I fear he had a medical emergency. . .and he was flying alone, correct? Do you know if he had a cell phone?

Im sorry about your friends hambirg...
Yes,the Cascades can really humble a person...beautiful and wild.

Yes...Ed did have a cell phone with him. I forgot to ask my family if LE or SAR had tried to "ping" or triangulate his cell. Im not real sure how that works.

Yes, he was flying alone Monday morning. He was on his way to Sequim to pick up his grandson.

 

[hambirg]

Im sorry about your friends hambirg...
Yes,the Cascades can really humble a person...beautiful and wild.

Yes...Ed did have a cell phone with him. I forgot to ask my family if LE or SAR had tried to "ping" or triangulate his cell. Im not real sure how that works.

Yes, he was flying alone Monday morning. He was on his way to Sequim to pick up his grandson.

Well, I hope they can get some good info off his cell phone. IF he did have a medical emergency but was still able to put the plane down somewhere. . hopefully that can help locate him. My gut says Cascades, but one really never knows. I just think that if he went down in the Sound somebody would have seen it.

ETA-Thanks about my friends. It was really hard to watch. .. can you imagine losing both of your children at the same time to something like this? They were the only two siblings in their family and their poor mom was a mess. But I will say that they were able to locate them fairly quickly and that brought her some peace. . .better than not knowing.

 

[GateKeeper]

Im thinking Glacier Peak Wilderness...?

 

[GateKeeper]

I'll dig up some info on GPW. It would make sense.. Its would be a logical flight path to take.
I also believe he may have set the plane down in the Casacades.He still hasnt been spotted, and if he had made it to the sound,it seems likely that we would have found him by now.

 

[northxnorthwest]

Checking in to see if any news on Ed and his plane, didn't see anything on the news. I was looking on google maps at all the main highways/interstate roads he could have followed of that was his normal way of flying. I'm working on a map of all the small airports of roads put into rural areas where housing developments/etc haven't been built yet. Some small airports in eastern WA are amongst trees and peoples properties. Some people leave their homes in the summer and other people come take care of the animals but don't really search the property for anything unusual. Many years ago some relatives of mine had a small plane crash on their property (located next to a small airport). The plane caught on fire and was totally wrecked as well as the two passengers didn't survive.

I don't know too much about search and rescue but I have become interested as I love being outdoors and I am currently looking and waiting for a job to start. There are many trained professional mountaineers who are hopefully searching "troublesome" aviation areas in the Cascades.

Anyways will post map tomorrow maybe just so people can see and understand easy highlighted with small airports, lakes/valleys/etc. I'm still newish to these forums and not sure what could be helpful or not.

 

[GateKeeper]

Checking in to see if any news on Ed and his plane, didn't see anything on the news. I was looking on google maps at all the main highways/interstate roads he could have followed of that was his normal way of flying. I'm working on a map of all the small airports of roads put into rural areas where housing developments/etc haven't been built yet. Some small airports in eastern WA are amongst trees and peoples properties. Some people leave their homes in the summer and other people come take care of the animals but don't really search the property for anything unusual. Many years ago some relatives of mine had a small plane crash on their property (located next to a small airport). The plane caught on fire and was totally wrecked as well as the two passengers didn't survive.

I don't know too much about search and rescue but I have become interested as I love being outdoors and I am currently looking and waiting for a job to start. There are many trained professional mountaineers who are hopefully searching "troublesome" aviation areas in the Cascades.

Anyways will post map tomorrow maybe just so people can see and understand easy highlighted with small airports, lakes/valleys/etc. I'm still newish to these forums and not sure what could be helpful or not.

That would be fantastic nxn !!!!
A good map is what we need...it would give us something to work with at least.
Im terrible at maps. Id really appreciate it!!!

 

[GateKeeper]

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012307299995

SEQUIM — Authorities were expected to continue searching today for a plane with an experienced pilot that went missing Monday en route from Tonasket to Sequim.

Ten search planes, each of which contained observers to scan the terrain, continued Saturday scouring the potential flight path of pilot Edward Jeffko, 72, of Tonasket, state Department of Transportation spokeswoman Nisha Marvel said late Saturday afternoon.

The approximately 24 emergency personnel continued to concentrate — by air only — on the Cascade Mountains and Strait of Juan de Fuca, she said.

“They don’t have any new leads,” Marvel said.

Douglas County emergency personnel also are participating in the search, Marvel said.

....okkkk,this struck me as odd. But,I suppose its because Pangborn Airport is in Douglas County. Hey,whatever works!!!!

One thing Ive noticed is a few leads called in...but LE is not calling people back..following up. Theres another one in the comments section of this article.

 

[GateKeeper]

Anyone who may have seen or see something can call 360-410-7757 or [email protected].

BUMP!