Plane down Lake Eyre North?
 

Just heard a C208 up near YMRE (Marree) talking to another aircraft which was apparently around Lake Eyre North & saying there would be a helicopter heading out to him/them soon.

DF.

is there water in Lake Eyre North? if i remember from a recent satellite photo, it looked like some water from the Alice springs floods made it to the north lake? if so, could be a sticky muddy situation.

I think there is, but not sure. Anyway, apparently there are/were two people stranded after aircraft problems. The first chopper that was sent out to rescue them broke down, & now there's another one on the way. A fun day was had by all by the sound of it - not!

DF.

The ABC (Australia) has picked up on the story.

Five stranded at Lake Eyre after two aircraft incidents

The good old lake strikes again! I can still vividly remember the day (29-7-90) the C210 (XAG) went into it, & all the angst the stupid pilot of it caused me.

DF.

Please relax, DF.
Trev's got it all in control.
And it's no big deal from the news reports. :)

I see news reports say that an aircraft made an emergency landing then the Chopper sent to get everyone itself suffered a mechanical issue and couldn't take off. A third chopper from Moomba was then dispatched and the passengers returned to William Creek. .

The William Creek Facebook page has been posting spectacularly beautiful photos of the lake in recent weeks. I struggle to imagine Trevor on FB, so I'm guessing the photos are from the chief pilot. Its worth a look.

Trevor is quoted in one of the news reports saying the passengers had a " muddy evening and a sticky one". So I guess that part of the lake is in the awful dry, but goop that your feet sink into stage.

Don't know whose aircraft it is. I know Trev spends a lot of money to try and avoid these failures. Sounds like a memorable experience for those involved!

I don't either, but with only 2 POB I doubt if it was one of Trev's. But I don't understand why there would have been 3 POB the chopper that was sent out to rescue them - seems a trifle strange?

DF.

Here's a bit more info from the ABC. It looks like the landing was going O.K. until that nice hardpan turned into goop ... :{
Then it looks like they tried to turn around and fly out of it ... but it only got worse, of course ... :{

Chopper bogged in Lake Eyre during light plane rescue bid

I've only got one thing to say....:ugh:

DF.

?

............

Squawk - that sounds like typical trevspeak to me! ;)

DF.

satellite phone systems perhaps?

edit, ABC news has updated their story
http://www.abc.net.au/news/image/632...x2-700x467.jpg


Just wait till the next tide and float it off... no problem..

Took the words right out of my mouth.

any idea on the cause of the initial forced landing? if they had enough engine power to try to turn around before getting stuck
:hmm:

Maybe it was a "forced" landing like the Aircan "forced" landing a couple of years back...

Maybe it was "forced" like the PA-28 that put down on Lake Frome years ago because the pilot wanted to know what it felt like to land on a salt lake! :ugh:

DF.

Plane down Lake Eyre North?
 

I had a guy hire a C172 a few years ago experience "carburettor ice" and land on Lake Frome. It was going well until he tried turning around to take off after the "ice melted". Net result got stuck. Had to fly / drive LAME in with 8.00 tyres and many yards of carpet. Said aircraft flew out a week later.

Reminds me of a story I heard of an American converting his license some years ago. He was adamant and most concerned that he wanted his float plane endorsement carried over. When quizzed a little further it turns out he was wanting to visit all our 'inland lakes.' That was back when we were in a drought too...! :ooh:

So it wasn't one of Trev's?