Finding Carla : the story that forever changed aviation search and rescue / Ross Nixon.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Nixon, Ross.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Aircraft accidents--California, Northern--History--20th century.

Aircraft accidents.

Airplanes--United States--Radio equipment--History--20th century.

Airplanes.

Aircraft accidents--United States--Law and legislation.

Airplanes--United States--Radio equipment--Law and legislation.

United States. Federal Aviation Administration--History--20th century.

United States.

United States. National Transportation Safety Board--History--20th century.

Corbus, Carla, 1951-1967--Death and burial.

Corbus, Carla.

Corbus, Carla, 1951-1967--Diaries.

Oien, Alvin F., 1908-1967.

Oien, Alvin F.

Oien, Alvin F., 1908-1967--Family.

Place of Publication:

Aviation Supplies and Academics, Inc.

Summary:

"In March of 1967, single-engine private pilot Alvin Oien, Sr. crashed his Cessna 195 in the mountains of Northern California, with passengers Phyllis (his wife) and Carla (his stepdaughter) after he hit unexpectedly worsening weather with fast ice-buildup on his wings. They all survived the crash due to Al's skillful and lucky handling but the icing caused him to spin out of control and fly far off course. He hard-landed near the summit of a remote mountain peak and the three of them were badly injured. Before 1968, there was no thought of any requirement for airplanes to contain emergency locator transmitters. Because of the multiple negative factors of the blizzard conditions, incredibly rough terrain and zero visibility, the search and rescue efforts failed as there was no 'ELT' onboard to pinpoint them. The ELT Beacon law, finally signed into the regulations in 1970 as a rider to the OSHA bill, could well be called Carla's Law. When the details of the 'Carla Corbus accident'--the story told in this book--made headline news when they were finally found 6 months later, along with a 'diary' that Phyllis and Carla kept (which was transcribed in part and published months after that), it was the shock that broke all political resistance to making such a law. This is a flying story as well as a life story. In retelling it, the hope is that the messages of this book spread through the aviation world and beyond, cause people to think about what is important in flying and life. The Oien Family's sacrifice in this needs to be remembered...in this story"--Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Preface: The ELT beacon law

Prologue: Hangar flying

A warning shot

The boss and his plane

The family

The flight

Trouble brewing

Crashed!

The diary

Al's lonely walk

Week two

Letters

Fading voices

Shoemaker Bally

Found

Aftermath

ELT beacons work

Epilogue

Appendix: NTSB report

Appendix: Senate report excerpts

Appendix: Photographs/a family album.

ISBN:

1-61954-344-3