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
Filed under: News Coverage
I, probably like a few others that read this blog, execute the occational internet search to see if Brian and Brandon have popped up somewhere (in Bogata, or have made an Iron Man like escape from a cave in the east). And… in the course of doing so, have discovered some additional news coverage on various websites; links to which are below. Hope everyone is well –BJ
Filed under: News Coverage
A show on the search for Brian and Brandon is playing on the CW. It’s called In Harm’s Way and the episode is called “Coast Guard Swimmers.” I missed most of the first airing, but it highlights how dangerous the Coast Guard’s search efforts were those first couple of days. Needless to say that when Nikki, Joyce, and I found out about the show during its first airing, it was quite a surprise. Also, now that I know it’s on, I’m trying to obtain a copy of the show and stock footage for analysis.
Filed under: News Coverage
We contacted Jeff Brown and Pete Carran at KTOO and KINY respectively to air the following message on the air. It has actually been airing since 9/17 when their DJ’s elect to annouce it:
Especially with doe season upon us,
The friends and family of Brian and Brandon Andrews would be appreciative of hunters, boaters, and travelers who keep an eye out for evidence of Brian and Brandon’s whereabouts and their aircraft. Brian and Brandon have been missing since August 9, 2008, with no evidence found.
The primary search areas have been the backside of Douglas and Mansfield Peninsula. For more information about gear on board, the intended flight path, or search efforts so far please go to https://andrewsinak.wordpress.com.
Specific knowledge of the missing persons’ whereabouts should be immediately passed to the Alaska State Troopers at 465-4000 or one of the contacts listed on the website.
Again, the family is very grateful to all of those who help.
Thanks much to Jeff and Pete,
BJ/Joyce/Nikki/Veida
JUNEAU EMPIRE
The family and friends of Brian and Brandon Andrews are immeasurably important to them, and have been extremely helpful to our family since Brian and Brandon went missing on Aug. 9. An enormous thank you goes out to everyone who has supported us throughout our search efforts.
While the U.S. Coast Guard and the family still plan on responding to reports of Brandon, Brian, and N9350X, the daily search activities in the area from Young’s Lake to Juneau Airport have been suspended. Therefore, garnering information from individuals regarding the plane’s disappearance will become even more valuable as time progresses.
Of course, for anyone who knows Brian and Brandon, it will come as no surprise that the word that best describes them is loving. They have so much love to give – to their family, their friends, and to Juneau, their community. They have a passion for life that cannot be superseded by the circumstances that resulted in their recent vanishing.
They are Alaskans, outdoorsmen, pilots, skiers, hikers, bikers and adventurers. Both Brandon and Brian are extremely smart and experts in their professional fields.
Brian, of course, is the Deputy Commissioner for the Alaska Department of Revenue and has 13 years of experience with the department as either comptroller or deputy commissioner. He is the most qualified individual in this state for his role.
Brandon is a software engineer by training and works in Juneau for the AKFIN Project as a database manager tracking the state’s fish resources.
Moreover, Brian and Brandon are the best friends that any mother or wife, brother, sister, or girlfriend could ask for. They are the best friends that any colleague or associate could ask for. And they are the best of friends to their many friends.
The family intends to extend individual thank you’s to numerous individuals, more than are listed here, but initially we would like to thank:
The U.S. Coast Guard Sector Juneau, Command Center, Commander Lemasters, Lieutenant Byron Hayes, Lieutenant Christopher Williammee, Alaska State Troopers, Sergeants Dobson and Umbs, the Civil Air Patrol, Ken Nestler, the Alaska Army National Guard, Juneau Mountain Rescue, Karl and Kaitlyn Bausler, Tim Arness, Coastal Helicopters, Mike Wilson and Shane, Temsco Helicopters, Mitch, the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation, Ruth Danner, Shawn Lew, Rose Duran, Karen Emberton, the Alaska Department of Revenue, Pat Galvin, Chapel By The Lake, Jenny and Cheyenne Lofton, Claudia and Mark Rackley and Erin May, Matt Stedman, Dene Ensley, Marcus and Sam Trivette and Jodee Deutsch, Wendy Williams, Wayne Nichols and family, Betsy and Scott Fisher, Sharon and Bruce Denton, Cori Hondolero, Kelli Anderson, Brant Oliphant, all the wonderful people who have donated meals, Paul and Jaime Kissner, Rob McKnight, anyone else who went up in an aircraft, Chris Miller, anyone else who went out on foot looking; we know there are many, The Dihle’s, anyone who went out on a boat looking, Louis Ulmer and Jody Daniels.
And all those we inadvertently missed. Thank you.
Joyce, B.J., and Nikki Andrews,and Veida Forrest
Filed under: News Coverage
Link http://juneauempire.com/stories/082008/reg_320846638.shtml
JUNEAU EMPIRE
The search for the two missing Juneau men whose floatplane did not return as scheduled on Aug. 9 was suspended Tuesday pending any new developments, the U.S. Coast Guard announced.
Brian Andrews, 56 and his son, Brandon Andrews, 24, did not return from a trip to Young Lake after leaving Juneau at about 3:45 p.m. on Aug. 9. They dropped a family member off in Juneau with some camping gear, and then left for another round-trip flight to Young Lake on Admiralty Island to pick up more gear, the Coast Guard said.
More than 4,800 miles of land, water, and shoreline were searched, according to the Coast Guard.
The Coast Guard is still asking mariners and aircraft transiting the area to report any sightings. The floatplane is a Cessna-182, white with red and silver trim and the tail number is N935OX.
Filed under: News Coverage
From http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/081908/loc_320475996.shtml
Brian Andrews and his son have been missing since Aug. 9
By Kim Marquis | JUNEAU EMPIRE
A search for two Juneau men whose floatplane disappeared Aug. 9 expanded over the weekend as friends of the Andrews family volunteered with Juneau Mountain Rescue doing ground searches on Douglas Island.
Twelve to 14 volunteers included family friends and co-workers of Brian Andrews, who is the deputy commissioner for the Alaska Department of Revenue, said Doug Wessen, administrative director for Juneau Mountain Rescue.
Andrews, 54, and his 24-year-old son, Brandon Andrews, were reported missing when their Cessna-182 did not return from a flight to a cabin at Young Lake.
No sign of the men or their plane had been reported as of Monday afternoon.
“(Our family) is incredibly grateful for the many people who have worked so hard to try to find them,” Brian Andrews’ wife, Joyce, said Monday. “There’s no way we can ever thank people enough or express our gratitude.”
The family set up a Web site at https://andrewsinak.wordpress.com to provide information on the search. Well-wishers have posted notes and prayers on the site.
Search efforts by air over the past 10 days were largely hampered due to persistent fog and low visibility.
More than two dozen members of Juneau Mountain Rescue have been involved in the search, Wessen said Monday, putting in about 425 total hours, plus another 170 hours on the ground by volunteers.
Rescue team members hiked North Douglas Island from the boat ramp to Hilda Point along the shoreline and into the woods. Another search party hiked from Eaglecrest Ski Area to Hilda Point.
The team also had spotters on a National Guard Blackhawk helicopter looking on Admiralty Island over the weekend when weather allowed.
“The flight patterns were done in a tight grid with one-tenth of a mile spacing,” Wessen said. “We crisscrossed several times over the same areas.”
The U.S. Coast Guard is in charge of the search. It has used several helicopters and a cutter to search a 2,000-square-mile area, with Civil Air Patrol and private aircraft assistance.
NorthStar Trekking donated helicopter time, a pilot and spotters Monday, said General Manager Craig Jennison. The company was one of several in Juneau that participated.
A state Department of Fish & Game vessel spent a combined 32 hours Thursday and Friday sailing in waters around Young Bay and Stephens Passage using underwater sonar to search for the plane.
The Coast Guard was scheduled to hold a meeting at 7 p.m. Monday to discuss what else could be done, said Alaska State Troopers spokeswoman Megan Peters.
Good weather Monday allowed the Coast Guard to cover all areas it had wanted to cover, she said.
Filed under: News Coverage
Monday, Aug 18
The air search for the missing float plane with Brian and Brandon Andrews on board got underway at mid-day today (Monday) after it was grounded due to weather Sunday.
A Coast Guard helicopter and Civil Air Patrol planes were scheduled to search.
Searchers were out Saturday, but were also hampered by weather conditions.
Extremely low visibility and ceilings kept aircraft from flying.
A ground search was conducted by Juneau Mountain Rescue on the northwest part of Douglas Island with negative results.
There’s been no sign of the Cessna 182 that went missing a week ago Saturday afternoon between Juneau and Young Lake on northern Admiralty Island was found.
The air search is concentrating on Admiralty Island, southern Stephens Passage, Tenakee Inlet, the northern part of Chatham Strait, and Icy Strait into Port Frederick.
The 56 year-old Brian Andrews is a Deputy Commissioner in the Alaska Department of Revenue. His son Brandon is 24.
Governor Sarah Palin issued a statement Saturday saying she remains hopeful for a positive outcome in the search.
“Todd and I continue to pray for Brian and Brandon’s safe return,” the Governor said. She added that their thoughts are with Brian’s wife Joyce, and his son B. J. and daughter Nikki as the search continues.
Anyone with information is asked to notify the Coast Guard at 463-2980.
Filed under: News Coverage
Aug. 14th
Searchers are using improved weather conditions to mount an extensive search for the missing Andrews float plane.
Search and Rescue Coordinator Scott Giard in the Coast Guard’s Juneau Command Center says they have one of their helicopters from Sitka, two Civil Air Patrol planes and the Blackhawk Helicopter from the Alaska Army National Guard in the air.
SEADOGS joined the search today and are conducting a ground search on Mansfield Peninsula on northern Admiralty Island near Young Bay along with Juneau Mountain Rescue.
The Cessna 182 on floats with 56 year old Brian Andrews and his 24 year old son Brandon on board disappeared Saturday afternoon between Juneau and Young Lake on northern Admiralty Island.
Both men are experienced pilots.
The elder Andrews is a Deputy Commissioner in the Alaska Department of Revenue.
Anyone with information is asked to notify the Coast Guard at 463-2980.
Filed under: News Coverage
http://akweathercams.faa.gov/viewsite.php
Lena Point Weather Cam
Andrews Family Info - 