Hi,
I finally uploaded the In Harm’s Way episode… in many ways it’s difficult to watch. This reality TV series glamorized occupational risk – and it sensationalized the tragedy that occurred to my family which is one reason it took me so long to upload. It also emphasizes, however, the phenomenal job done by the U.S. Coast Guard in searching for my dad and brother. I like the incredible editing of the footage as well. Parts of the show, along with comments from the Coasties, may actually help me to find closure someday.
It’s funny there’s so much footage the producer barely allowed the host, Hunter Ellis, to speak. It was also showcased on TV very quickly – when we were still searching almost every day. I can only hope (sincerely) that some money was made. At the same time, my family would have liked to have been notified that the filming took place and that the show was going on TV before it aired. It shocked me at first that we were not notified. We were, however appreciative to get a master copy after the show was already on the CW, but what we really would have liked and still would like are all of the original reels so that we can go through the footage frame by frame for evidence of N9350X. I’ve asked for it before, but if anyone has any ideas of how to go about asking for this one more time feel free to comment.
Once you’ve watched the episode, my following comments will make more sense:
My understanding of the second accident aircraft featured in this show is that the pilots decided to forgo refueling which lead to the crash. In Brian and Brandon’s disappearance it’s much more difficult to pinpoint a cause or even a likely combination of factors. Remember that this show sold to people’s natural tendency for risk aversion, it thus makes flying small planes in S.E. look dangerous; however, I know many pilots who would disagree (recall the following link for more). It also highlights the failures of the old ELT systems, not only that they broke, but for instance, the reason why it took the Coast Guard three hours to find the second plane was that two satellite passes were needed before the exact GPS position could be determined. The new 406 MHz systems shouldn’t have this problem. While the timing of this second aircraft accident still confuses me in that it diverted (satellite? and other) resources from the search for N9350X, I don’t think it made much of a difference in finding them and actually this segment highlights the difficulty of seeing a downed aircraft in the Tongass. As time goes by I might investigate this second crash more fully. In the meantime, does anybody know the names of the two pilots on-board or know this planes tail number? Thanks…
Well… without further ado, click here to view Episode 104 of In Harm’s Way, “Coast Guard Swimmers,” which aired on the CW September 30th, 2008 and was produced by Pilgrim Films & Television, or right-click and “Save as” one of the following links:
http://www.bassower.com/share/harmsway.mp4 (High@Level 3.1) [550 MB] {42:30} From the master copy.
http://www.bassower.com/share/harmsway.wmv (VC-1, Pro-9) [640 MB] {42:30} Also, from the master copy.
http://www.bassower.com/share/harmsway.avi (xVid) [370 MB] A high definition copy found on the internet from someone who is better at encoding video than I am.
— BJ
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Andrews Family Info - 
Aircraft: BEECH 95-B55, registration: N98HA
Comment by Blue Penguin November 21, 2009 @ 10:31 AMBJ –
About the other plane the crashed the same night.
From the NTSB website “BEECH 95-B55 – Tail number N98HA”
http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20080814X01247&key=1
And from the AP
Authorities ID Georgia Victims in Alaska Plane Crash
August 13, 2008 15:43 PM
SITKA, Alaska (AP) — Alaska State Troopers have released the identities of two Georgia men killed in a plane crash near Sitka.
Troopers identified the victims as the pilot, 83-year-old Harold Joseph Gaines of Marietta, and the passenger, 73-year-old Sy Mymudes of Decatur.
Troopers say both men died from injuries sustained in the Sunday night crash about 20 miles north of Sitka in southeast Alaska.
The cause of the crash is under investigation.
Troopers say preliminary investigation points to a fuel shortage as a potential cause.
Officials say the plane landed in Gustavus earlier Sunday, but no fuel was available. The two were advised to go to Juneau, but instead indicated they would try to make it to Sitka, their intended destination.
Comment by Veida November 23, 2009 @ 5:32 PM