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

  • #61
nxnw...actually Im desperate for a good map!
What I really need is a map of the Cascades,particularly the Glacier Wilderness area. I think what Im looking for is "water"...like some small lakes or ponds. I know thats a lot of area to be looking for a body of water,but there HAS to be an aerial map out there some where of the North Cascades.
UGH...frustration!!
SO...if theres any "Map Gurus" out there....wink wink.. ;)


BTW...ALL you guys are awesome!!

Contact the Dept. of Forrestry. They have surveyors who go through the bush and map it out. If anyone knows where the "water" would be...it's them.

Have you appealed to *every* pilot within radius to help with a visual search? Crop dusters, etc. etc.?

Prayers continued.
 
  • #62
Guess there's still no news about Ed. I hope he is found soon, but I know how difficult it is to find a downed aircraft. Unless there are people around who actually see him or the plane, the tree cover hides almost everything.
Ed is in my thoughts and prayers.
 
  • #63
Well,no new info for now.
My family said the vigil was very nice..alot of love and support from the town.
There are private pilots still out there looking for him. No news of any leads though.

I did take rosesfromangels advice,and I checked with the Forest Service. They actually turned me onto a map thats on National Geographics website.
Here is the link:
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/national-parks/north-cascades-map/

......Switch the map to aerial view.

Im working on a screen shot of the Glacier Wilderness Area.
 
  • #64
Well,no new info for now.
My family said the vigil was very nice..alot of love and support from the town.
There are private pilots still out there looking for him. No news of any leads though.

I did take rosesfromangels advice,and I checked with the Forest Service. They actually turned me onto a map thats on National Geographics website.
Here is the link:
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/national-parks/north-cascades-map/

......Switch the map to aerial view.

Im working on a screen shot of the Glacier Wilderness Area.

Try and track down a Vietnam vet pilot or chopper pilot. Ask them how they handled search and save in that dense forest. I'm sure they faced similar issues but knew every trick in the book. Meaning, can you see reflections or metal off search lights better at night etc. If anyone can come up with ideas, they can. Prayers continued.
 
  • #65
Been away for awhile and wanted to check up on Ed and his plane. So sad that nothing has been found :( There is so much terrain and area to be searched. I know hikers and other outdoorsy people get lost a lot around WA and I never thought about how hard it would be to search for them - WA has lots of different and difficult terrain and many many remote areas where people never walk around or explore/etc.

Have any posters of Ed with a really good detailed blown up picture of his airplane been posted at any small airports anywhere in WA, esp along his supposed flight path. Who knows maybe some other pilot will see a piece of a wing or a light reflection along the path.
 
  • #66
I wanted to give you guys some good news,but I dont really have any.
I can say that we havent given up trying to find Ed. His lovely wife has been on a few searches with a pilot that has experience in SAR. They searched a few regions that had caught the pilots eye...but no luck.
There are alot of local pilots that have done fly-overs,looking for a glimmer of metal or a torn up plot of trees.
I dont have a better picture of his plane. But Ill try to get one of the flyers and post it here.
The family is staying strong and leaning on the people that love them. Not knowing WHERE he is,is the worst part. IMO.

OT.....Ive lived in Washington my whole life..the beauty here STILL blows my mind. But,the terrain allows a person to litterly "vanish". Heck,if you wanna disappear,go to Washington. Folks do it all the time.
 
  • #67
I myself have been away for about 10 days and sad to come back with this man still missing. I am praying for him, his wife, and family.

Here's a long shot, and not even quite sure how to describe this. I know that in other missing persons cases, a technology has been used that is infrared(?) that detects the presence of a human/human body. You might ask about that. Not sure how readily accessible that is, but worth mentioning. God Bless this man, may he be found soon. I can only imagine the pain his wife is in. God Bless her too.
 
  • #68
Its been a month now since Ed went missing. :(
I guess I just wanted to to bump the thread for him.
 
  • #69
Praying for Ed, his wife, family, and friends.
 
  • #70
Prayers.....
 
  • #71
Still looking for Ed...still praying.
If I hear anything new,Ill be sure to share.

You guys are the best...btw.
 
  • #72
Prayers continued. Come home Ed.
 
  • #73
Just wondering if any news on Ed and/or his plane. I also noticed that he isn't listed on any missing persons lists for WA, I guess I'm just wondering why? Wouldn't that be helpful?

I spent a lot of time over in eastern WA the past few weeks for field research and I was thinking about Ed and other missing people from WA. I know many parts of WA have been burned up from the wildfires and it's so sad because it could have burned up wreckage/anything. I know the chances for Ed aren't the best since it has been awhile but I still want to imagine he survived his plane crashing and was maybe injured but managed to survive like a bad*** pilot/wilderness man and is just trekking his way back home through the wild. :(

Also there should be posters at/nearby all small WA airports so other pilots can see and report if they see anything! That could be pretty helpful.
 
  • #74
I'm so sad to see there isn't any additional news about this gentleman. I can only imagine the grief his wife is going through. I continue to pray he is found. To the searchers...please, don't give up. It could be the next search that produces results.
Prayers continued...
 
  • #75
Its been three months now since Ed went missing :(
I wish I had some new information for you guys..but I just dont. Im sorry.
PLEASE continue the prayers...and bless your hearts. :heartbeat:
 
  • #76
My prayers continue, and most especially for Ed's wife.
 
  • #77
I HAD to share this with you guys...I know in my heart you would all love to see this.
Thank you all so much for your thoughtful prayers and for just...being here.

http://flycorvair.net/2012/10/22/ed-and-claire-jeffko-a-love-story/

Ed and Claire Jeffko, a love story.

And, so last July as he went to pick up one of our grandsons for the
summer, Ed and the Glasair 743CA went down in the North Cascades,
taking so many dreams with it. However, Ed was a pilot through and
through and wherever he is, I know he is flying. – Claire“
Claire also added:
“We may never find him. He and that plane were as one. But, I will search for him the rest of my life.”
 
  • #78
  • #79
Claire Jeffko carrying on couple’s work

TONASKET — Impassioned pilot and former city councilman Ed Jeffko hasn’t been seen since his kit plane went down last summer, but the Jeffko name is still synonymous with community service in this quirky town 20 miles from the Canadian border.
Claire has filled her husband’s spot on the city’s Civil Service board and continues to hold up her half of the couple’s spirit of volunteerism.

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2012/dec/28/claire-jeffko-carrying-on-couples-work/

I thought ya'll might want a little update on how Claire is doing. What a strong women...wow!
They were together for 34 years! God Bless em.!!
 
  • #80
 

Attachments

  • claire and ed.jpg
    claire and ed.jpg
    17.3 KB · Views: 28

Staff online

Members online

Online statistics

Members online
142
Guests online
1,083
Total visitors
1,225

Forum statistics

Threads
632,296
Messages
18,624,435
Members
243,077
Latest member
someoneidk
Back
Top