From new author Ross Nixon, a book that tells the true story of an aviation search-and-rescue and a family's struggle--- and how together they affected the history of the use of emergency locator transmitters (ELTs) in aircraft.
In March 1967, a Cessna 195 flew from Oregon towards San Francisco carrying a family of three: Alvin Oien, Sr. (the pilot), his wife Phyllis and step-daughter Carla Corbus. Due to worse-than-predicted weather, it went down in the mountains of northern California only eight miles from a highway. It was before they became required equipment for airplanes, and this downed airplane had no ELT in rugged terrain and snowy winter storms... all these negatives hindered the search-and-rescue efforts.
The eventual finding of the wreck in October of that year by hunters shocked the nation. A diary and series of letters from the survivors explained their predicament; now, in Finding Carla Ross Nixon tells the complete story as it has never been told--- in full, with its effect on the author himself as he rediscovered it.
The unfolding of this tragedy spurred political action towards making ELTs in aircraft mandatory; out of tragedy, the Oien family's legacy lives on, as the radios have saved thousands of lives since then. Pilots who read this story will never fly without a flight plan, survival gear, or a working ELT.
A fascinating story about human survival and perseverance, Finding Carla is also ideal reading for aviation safety, law, human factors, and accident investigation courses. Illustrated with a family photo and memorabilia album; includes details of the forming of ELT regulations in an Appendix that reproduces excerpts from The Congressional Record. Softcover, 6" x 9", black and white, 230 pages.
