Once Upon a Plane Crash
My badass rating has increased exponentially. That’s because I’ve joined the ranks of statistical anomalies who have not only been in a plane crash, but who have walked out completely fine.
As you phlog followers may already know, I’ve been working in the Yukon as an expediter for a hunting outfit. This means I stay in town and get my errand on while the rest of the crew gets their bush on way out in the mountains. Last week I received a satellite phone call from the depths of those mountains saying I’d better pack a set of my warmest clothes and hurry my ass to the airport because I was coming for a visit.
It was a gorgeous morning to lose my bush plane virginity. As we flew up into the sunrise and back down again I was too busy snapping photos to notice the pilot and my boss Mac were busy tightening their seat belts and bracing for the impact of skidding the length of the frosty airstrip and flipping right off the bank at the end of it. I guess ol’ Fortuna was in a good mood that day because the only thing that was destroyed in our spectacular entrance was the plane.
Shiny happy takeoff. If you read between the lines of light you may notice Mac smiling about all the reasons he thinks it would be funny to neglect telling me his bush pilot super senses know we’re going to crash.
Sunrise over Whitehorse.
Sunrise over mountains.
Another photo from an aerial sunrise binge.
Descending for landing … Or so I thought.
This is what the inside of a 206 plane looks like after it’s flipped off a bank at the end of an airstrip.
This is what the outside of a 206 plane looks like after it’s flipped off a bank at the end of an airstrip.
JP (on the left) smiling out of what I assume is gladness to find us alive & well. I think she may have fared the worst in the crash being the one who had to witness it and sprint like a maniac down the airstrip in her rubber boots not knowing what she was going to find at the other end.
The belly of the very broken beast.
Another view, because really, how often do you have the opportunity to show off photos of a plane crash you walked away from?
The mangled fuselage, because really, how often do you have the opportunity to use those two words together?
September 15th, 2011 at 7:21 pm
Beautiful stunning scenery (aside from the plane). I imagine poor JP was frightened beyond belief witnessing this!
September 15th, 2011 at 9:53 pm
Oh my JP…so glad you’re all OK, except for the mangled beast… How does this adventure rate compared to drinking turpentine?? xo
September 16th, 2011 at 12:05 am
and then the long walk home through bear country !
September 16th, 2011 at 12:55 am
Never a dull moment with JP and JP! Dead van, destroyed trailer, plane crash…better stay away from trains, girl! I’m so glad you walked away from this one.
September 16th, 2011 at 1:41 am
God god ponto! I am so glad you are ok..oof..thought i had lost you forever!!! *cries* xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
September 16th, 2011 at 8:36 am
What an adventure!!! Sooooooo happy that you are still with us Jodie. xo
September 17th, 2011 at 3:35 pm
So, so glad you’re ok JP. Having worked in helicopters for five years, I understand the statistics!!!
September 18th, 2011 at 8:40 pm
wow…crazy, so glad all is well! i could only imagine what was going through jody head…too scary! xo