Please HELP!!! Downed pilot in the ONF!

Post by **737driver** » Tue Feb 04, 2014 12:41 am

Hey folks! As some of you have heard, the Arkansas Forest Commission has lost a pilot and plane on the Ouachita National Forest. Last known position was Friday 1:11pm near Oden, AR and supposedly flying towards Wickes. An extensive search has been underway since Friday evening. Many trained professionals are out searching at this very minute. I have spent the last 48 hours combing extremely rugged areas in the Albert Pike and Caney Creek Wilderness to search for my fellow aviator. Of all the man power out there, it's simply not enough or he would be home. I'm gonna post a Facebook page below of a group of volunteers that search to date satellite imagery in hopes of finding a downed plane. Tomnod is the company that will snap satellite images of the search area tomorrow and then we will post a link on the Facebook page. If you want to help find the pilot (Jake Harrell) from your office, living room, or just bored and want to try the technology then join the Facebook group. When the images are taken tomorrow, a link will be available for you to comb through and look for an airplane, airplane parts, path of broken trees, scorched Earth, etc. Anything of interest. You can then save your search by creating an account and notifying us of any finds. You may very well save a life from your PC or iPhone. This method has already saved lives this month in Idaho. Thanks for your help!

Post by **737driver** » Tue Feb 04, 2014 12:42 am

Oops. Here's the link to the page.
https://m.facebook.com/groups/1392351827693568" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Post by **okieboater** » Tue Feb 04, 2014 8:42 am

Clay,

can you post a link that works (not on facebook) on this msg board?

For a lot of reasons, I got off the Facebook train, but have the time to help on a computer search for sure

dave

Post by **737driver** » Tue Feb 04, 2014 9:00 am

I will post the image link when I get it. Still waiting. Weather may be the factor right now. Thanks Dave! I wish we could have gotten the images on Fri or Sat.

Post by **Ouachitoff** » Tue Feb 04, 2014 10:19 am

I would be glad to help.

Post by **johnnybiggun** » Tue Feb 04, 2014 12:58 pm

Like Mena Radio facebook for updates!
https://www.facebook.com/menaradio" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Link to Video below...
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151843319271058" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Post by **737driver** » Tue Feb 04, 2014 9:50 pm

I'm still waiting on better weather to get Sat images for everyone to comb through. I've been on the ground for the last 3 days search on grids tirelessly along with many others. Mitch Allen and I searched an entire mountain today and nothing found. We will continue till we find him. I think these satellite images are gonna be the turning point. As soon as I have them, I'll get the link to you. Thanks for being patient!

Post by **737driver** » Wed Feb 05, 2014 2:44 pm

An example of the imagery used to find a missing plane in Idaho last month. Missing for 16 days.

Post by **737driver** » Wed Feb 05, 2014 11:37 pm

We think we have it narrowed down to a 5 mile radius of mile marker 10 hwy 88. Using cell pings off buck knob mountain cell tower near opal and a mayday call heard on hwy 88.
If anyone is going hiking, this would be a great place to go, but go prepared with survival gear. It's very rugged. Please don't let me be responsible for a lost one of you.

Post by **737driver** » Wed Feb 05, 2014 11:39 pm

Start with any green areas inside the radius.

Post by **johnnybiggun** » Fri Feb 07, 2014 7:58 am

Arkansas Forestry Commission spokesperson Adriane Barnes spoke to Mena Radio news Thursday 2/6/14 on the search for Jake Harrell.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10 ... =2&theater" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Post by **Moniker** » Fri Feb 07, 2014 9:05 pm

The weather forecast for Mena tomorrow shows some clearing,I looked at some of the Tomnod images posted on facebook but it is hard to see a lot of areas.It did suprise me that they were as clear as they were considering the very brief period of sun that day.Hopefuly they can get some better images this weekend,this looks like an awesome tool.
Thank you to all the searchers,Don Lewis

Post by **Moniker** » Fri Feb 07, 2014 10:49 pm

Just recieved an email that said the privacy of this facebook group had been changed from open to closed.It has over nine hundred followers,I do'nt know why it was closed but I'm sure there was a good reason.
Please keep him, his family and the searchers in your prayers.

Post by **cpresoz** » Tue Feb 11, 2014 8:04 pm

A tragic and very sad end: http://www.katv.com/story/24696789/plan ... rell-found" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Post by **737driver** » Tue Feb 11, 2014 11:34 pm

Thank you all for the support that I received in the search efforts. This group never fails to amaze me. You all will drop everything to help another paddler. From lending cameras to do image searching, lending your precious time, to getting your feet on the mountains in the cold to search areas of focus. Many of you also used your brains to search satellite imagery and mapping technology to develop theoretical flight paths. Jake has been brought home after 12 days missing. Although the outcome is not what we wanted, there is now some closure for the family. Thank you.
Cowper, Monica, Beth, Richard, Wes, Gannon, Mitch, Steve and the many others. I'm sure I've forgotten someone but it's been a long 12 days.

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