12/31/2008
Missing White Bird pilot Christensen found uninjured
BOISE - An overdue White Bird pilot, Paul M. Christensen, was located this morning following a brief search and rescue operation organized by the Idaho Transportation Department's Division of Aeronautics.
Christensen, who was due at the Slate Creek airstrip north of Riggins Tuesday afternoon, was found uninjured along the Salmon River by Idaho Fish and Game employees in a jet boat dispatched to his location this morning.
The pilot was landing his single-engine airplane near the Salmon River on Tuesday when an engine malfunction forced the aircraft down.
Christensen flew into the Moscow-Pullman airport early Tuesday afternoon and then began his return trip to the Riggins area, but never checked in.
An ELT (Emergency Locator Transmitter) signal was reported in the area Tuesday around 9:15 p.m. by the U.S. Air Force, and another one was picked up by satellite about an hour later.
The Civil Air Patrol and ground crews had been activated for the search.