The crashes which have pictures on the news are the ones near the airport. Reason is that the TV news folks don't go very far.

Crashing elsewhere may mean you'll be on your own for awhile.


We get ridgetop crashes here in Colorado that take considerable time and effort to reach which don't get anything but a 'broken airplane' graphic on the news if they get reported at all.

On the other hand, the folks who crash on the ridges generally aren't well trained which implies they aren't prepared which means they probably have little gear to help them.

So if you carry all your survival gear, you probably won't crash. That's my theory anyway.

That close they had no need for survival gear. While the chance of a water landing is extremely rare here a PFD would be a good Idea. My survival vest is based on an old ALICE version with gear inside and out. I also made one for short kikes from an old BDU blouse. Not at all. I've seen the crashes and have concluded it would be foolish to put myself in a small aircraft. Just as it would be foolish to walk through a bad nieghborhood at night counting my cash.

Another reason for the AR is all the meth labs out here. The people running them are a lot less likely to go after someone with a serious weapon than a guy with a fanny pack. And if they are foolish enough to try I can defend myself. Also if you spot a home out in the desert it's not a real good idea to approach it. You never know what kind of reception you'll receive.

Just a note.

Your posting location is identified as "Planet Earth."

Water landing, as an average probability across Planet Earth is actually quite high.
(Seeing as how Planet Earth is 3/4 water and all......)

Here we have deserts and mountains. Not a whole lot of water. Summer hikes require carrying a lot of the wet stuff.

Following a ditch at sea or an "Emergency off-airport landing" on the dry side of the beach, I'll stay near the plane and activate my PLB. If I'm floating in my vest or raft, I'll turn on my radio to Channel 16 and give a call out while my GPS warms up and gives me a location; if dry I'll just sit near the wreckage. I don't need to go anywhere, they'll come to me.

Where is "here?"


(Hint- YOUR PROFILE SAYS "PLANET EARTH" which isn't real specific)

It's not meant to be specific. I live in the Southwest.

Southwest Planet Earth?

Southwest Maine?


Dude- you started a rant about survival gear for trips you won't take and refer to places known only to yourself.

I don't think I'll reply to you any more.

Sorry i offended you. Have a good day, sir.