Update: FAA Releases Preliminary Report On Columbia Plane Crash
Update at 4:12 p.m.: New information has been released on Thursday afternoon’s plane crash outside of Columbia Airport in Tuolumne County. The Tuolumne County Fire Department crews were some of the first on the scene and relayed what they found at the scene in the 10500 block of Horseshoe Bend Road, including how the Jaws of Life were used to free the pilot trapped inside the aircraft and more details below:
On Thursday, January 23, at about 3:15 pm, CAL FIRE TCU, Tuolumne County Fire, Tuolumne County Ambulance, Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Department, and CHP were dispatched to an aircraft down off Horseshoe Bend Road in Columbia. On arrival, resources discovered a single-engine aircraft nose-down with one occupant still trapped inside the plane and one injured person had self-extricated. Fire crews ordered additional personnel to the scene, including another engine and water tender.
While paramedics attended to the first patient, and after a complicated extrication using the jaws of life and other rescue tools (grant-funded through OTS), firefighters were able to free the second occupant from the plane.
Due to a fuel leak and the risk of fire, hoselines were deployed that stretched over 700 feet to ensure occupant and responder safety.
Both patients were transported by TCA to waiting air ambulances and transported to valley trauma centers.
The quick response from fire personnel was aided by SAFER grant-funded positions. Without these, it would have delayed treatment and extrication times that likely would affect the patient’s outcome. This incident required various CAL FIRE/TCFD equipment, including 3 fire engines with auto extrication tools, 1 water tender, 1 breathing support/rescue, 1 battalion chief and 1 safety officer to make a successful outcome.
Responding resources to the initial and subsequent resource orders included:
10 TCFD personnel in 5 emergency vehicles, including a Battalion Chief, 2 engines, one breathing support/rescue, and one water tender.
5 CAL FIRE TCU personnel in 3 vehicles with one engine and one safety officer.
TCAS/ MDA- 2 ambulances with a total of 4 personnel
TCSO- multiple SO deputies
Tuolumne County Environmental Health responded for the fuel leak
CHP
Two air ambulances
Original post written by BJ Hansen at 11:25 a.m.: Fresno, CA — The Federal Aviation Administration is continuing its investigation into Thursday’s plane crash near the Columbia Airport.
The FAA released its first report on the incident this morning with preliminary details. It notes that the plane was a Cessna model 172 and it sustained “substantial” damage. The 1969 fixed-wing single-engine aircraft is registered to Richard Edwards from Acampo, California, according to the FAA.
The report adds that the crash happened at around 3:15 pm on Thursday and, “The aircraft crashed under unknown circumstances in a pasture in Columbia, CA.”
(It was in the 10500 block of Horseshoe Bend Road, off South Airport Road)
Both the pilot and the passenger (who have not yet been identified) suffered “serious injuries.”
Click here to view an earlier story from Thursday.
We will pass along more information as it becomes available.
