By Pepper Fisher
BLYN, WASH. – The body of a pilot was recovered Wednesday afternoon after crash landing in a forested area of the Buckhorn Wilderness in Jefferson County.
Original witness reports had the plane coming in low with a sputtering engine over the Blyn/Gardiner area around 3:00pm.
Initially, Clallam Fire District 3 and the Sheriff’s Office responded. The Sheriff’s Search and Rescue was requested along with a Search and Rescue Helicopter from Naval Station Whidbey Island.
Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputies arrived on scene soon after and added two drones to help in the search. They were able to determine the crash site was likely in Jefferson County so Command was established with Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and their Fire District at that time.
When the helicopter arrived and took over the aerial search, Clallam 3 Chief Ben Andrews says fog in the search area hampered the operation for some time.
“The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office had two drones up right away, that were kind of limited where they could go because of the fog. And the Navy helicopter had the same issues, until there was just a brief moment in time where the fog lifted and they were able to access the next area. And that’s when they located the site.”
Sixty six-year-old David W. Hodges of Friday Harbor has been identified as the victim in the crash.
Andrews described the scene of the crash.
“The Navy Rescuers were able to find it by locating some broken tree tips, the tops of the trees were broken. And then were able to zero in on that and actually find the debris field. And then when…the photo I saw, I didn’t see really like a recognizable fuselage or anything. It was pretty destroyed.”
Chief Andrews said was very impressed with the level of assistance, co-operation, coordination and expertise shown by all of the responders.
“I was super impressed with both Jefferson and Clallam Counties SAR teams. It was my first time seeing them in action in a while, and they were really squared away.”
(JCSO photo)