JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- Alaska Air National Guardsmen of the 176th Wing rescued two following a Taylorcraft F-19 airplane crash near Lake Louise, July 14.
On the evening of July 14, the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center received notification of a 406 MHz emergency locator beacon activation alerting them of a possible aviation incident.
“While the team was working to identify the location and source of the ELT, a good Samaritan called with information about an airplane crash near Lake Louise,” said Alaska Air National Guard Master Sgt. David Alborn, AKRCC senior controller. “The information provided by the phone call helped us know which assets to dispatch to the site.”
The AKRCC coordinated with the 176th Wing to dispatch a 210th Rescue Squadron HH-60G Pave Hawk with a 212th Rescue Squadron Guardian Angel team on board.
The Pave Hawk safely located the aircraft and landed nearby. The Guardian Angel team, comprising two pararescuemen, conducted a medical assessment of the aircraft occupants before preparing them for transport.
“The survivors were uninjured and well prepared for the elements,” Alborn said, emphasizing the importance of having a registered ELT with emergency contacts updated to support rescue efforts should responders need more information to locate an aircraft.
The HH-60 crew safely transported the survivors to the Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, and the AK RCC, 210th RQS and 212th RQS received credit for two saves.