Saturday, September 17, 2016

What Was That Commotion, Down There?

While hiking, along some of the drug smuggling trails on the southern end of Hidden Valley (near Interstate 8) and south of Robin Road, I noticed a commotion, below, some three miles to the northeast. Soon, an air ambulance helicopter N973AE appeared and made a dusty landing. It wasn't until Saturday morning, before I learned what happened. 

Glider plane crashes in Maricopa, pilot injured

The single-occupant glider fell at approximately 5 p.m. near Ralston and Wildwood Roads. A Pinal County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman said the pilot "was breathing," when crews arrived on the scene, and "deputies are still on the scene," nearly four hours later. Dispatch

In recent months, there have been several aviation related fatalities and mishaps in and around Hidden Valley. Earlier this year, a P-51 Mustang nose dived into the ground Article, while there have also been one or two skydiving accidents at Skydive Phoenix ABC15. Perhaps, people might want to reconsider their thoughts, before taking to the air, out this way.