UTAH

Man details perilous rescue of pilot who went down in Rich County

Jan 26, 2023, 9:00 AM | Updated: Oct 19, 2023, 1:05 pm

RICH COUNTY, Utah — There is a lot of open space in the Wasatch-Cache National Forest in Rich County. Tuesday night, though, there wasn’t much time to search the area.

“The storm was kind of catching up to us, so visibility was shutting back in,” Luke Bowman said.

Bowman is a chief pilot for Utah’s Department of Public Safety.

He was flying the DPS helicopter over the Wasatch-Cache National Forest near Woodruff.

A small airplane had gone down in this area and Bowman’s team was trying to get to her.

“It was really remote,” he said. “We were happy to hear that she had made contact via text with someone and was able to relay her location.”

The problem was being able to get to where she was.

Search and rescue teams were on snowmobiles but were hours away in rugged terrain.

On his first route to get to her location, Bowman had to turn around east of Morgan because the canyon he was flying in was clouded due to snow and wind. A second attempt from the Croydon area near Lost Creek Reservoir also resulted in having to turn around because of bad weather.

“We were ready to call it and come home just because we didn’t want to push anything,” he said. “We have to be safe ourselves as much as possible.”

They got word the weather would be a little better if they approached from Evanston, then north to Woodruff, and east into the area near Monte Cristo.

But they had to be quick. Bad weather was coming fast.

“We had already talked about it as a crew that that was our last try,” Bowman said.

The third attempt worked.

Please read Alex’s entire story at KSLTV.com.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

Utah

A West Jordan man was arrested Tuesday for investigation of negligent homicide after he allegedly t...

Pat Reavy, ksl.com

West Jordan man shot, killed best friend while trying to ‘be funny,’ police say

A West Jordan man was arrested Tuesday for investigation of negligent homicide after shooting his "best friend."

8 hours ago

FILE: The bust of 30 pounds of fentanyl in American Fork on March 21 highlights the drug problem Ut...

Heather Peterson and Curt Gresseth

DEA warns fentanyl most deadly drug in U.S. and Utah history

The DEA said Utah is on pace to see double the amount of fentanyl this year than last.

12 hours ago

1040 form shown, tax refund season is here...

Sam Herrera

Should you spend or save your tax refund?

Filing your taxes can be a headache but figuring out how to spend your tax refund might be a headache in its own right.

14 hours ago

Single-family homes under construction in Saratoga Springs are pictured on Tuesday, July 19, 2022....

Adam Small

2023 saw far fewer building permits in Utah, report says

The Ogden-Clearfield metro area had the biggest percentage decline in building permits year-over-year, nose-diving by 34%.

15 hours ago

the aster building in utah, affordable housing apartment...

Don Brinkerhoff

New study says Utah is the most affordable state — and why that’s not necessarily true

A new report from USA TODAY says Utah is the most affordable state in the nation. This comes just days after another report ranked Utah among some of the least affordable places to live.

16 hours ago

Over 30% of people in Utah are considred prediabetic because of the amount of soda they drink....

Amanda Dickson

Is Utah’s soda obsession behind our levels of prediabetes?

Here in Utah, our soda drinking habits might be making us particularly at risk for prediabetes and diabetes.

17 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

Mother and cute toddler child in a little fancy wooden cottage, reading a book, drinking tea and en...

Visit Bear Lake

How to find the best winter lodging in Bear Lake, Utah

Winter lodging in Bear Lake can be more limited than in the summer, but with some careful planning you can easily book your next winter trip.

Happy family in winter clothing at the ski resort, winter time, watching at mountains in front of t...

Visit Bear Lake

Ski more for less: Affordable ski resorts near Bear Lake, Utah

Plan your perfect ski getaway in Bear Lake this winter, with pristine slopes, affordable tickets, and breathtaking scenery.

front of the Butch Cassidy museum with a man in a cowboy hat standing in the doorway...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Looking Back: The History of Bear Lake

The history of Bear Lake is full of fascinating stories. At over 250,000 years old, the lake has seen generations of people visit its shores.

silhouette of a family looking over a lake with a bird in the top corner flying...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

8 Fun Activities To Do in Bear Lake Without Getting in the Water

Bear Lake offers plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy without having to get in the water. Catch 8 of our favorite activities.

Wellsville Mountains in the spring with a pond in the foreground...

Wasatch Property Management

Advantages of Renting Over Owning a Home

Renting allows you to enjoy luxury amenities and low maintenance without the long-term commitment and responsibilities of owning a home.

Clouds over a red rock vista in Hurricane, Utah...

Wasatch Property Management

Why Southern Utah is a Retirement Paradise

Retirement in southern Utah offers plenty of cultural and recreational opportunities. Find out all that this region has to offer.

Man details perilous rescue of pilot who went down in Rich County