EAA Chapter 430Fly-Out to Packwood: Mountain Views, a Mexican Lunch, and Good News About Dave
Although this fly-out was originally scheduled for Thursday, the weather forecast changed and the fly-out was moved up to Tuesday, May 13. Good choice, because Tuesday’s weather was excellent. Thursday’s was rainy.
The flight from Sequim to Packwood is about 130 miles when flying direct, or 150 miles when choosing a lower route. Ken Brown and I chose the lower route which has a larger variety of landscape to view along the way. Richard Howell also chose the lower route as we found out about half an hour from our destination. We identified Richard’s airplane on our ADS-B display as we slowly crept up on him. Keeping a separation of about 3 miles I felt like we could pass him and beat him to the airport. As we passed, I called and asked if he was on the frequency, and he was. We’d been watching each other and he had us visibly in sight. I made several slight changes in direction, hoping to slink further ahead of him, but every time I did this, so did he. As we got close to the airport, it was obvious there was little traffic. One airplane had landed about five minutes earlier so we knew what runway was in use. With no other traffic reporting, I decided we could make a straight-in approach, and I broadcast my intention. Then Ken and I began seriously looking for the field… GPS didn’t help… Finally, we realized we had somehow passed over it by about a mile, so I made a 180, advising we were no longer making a straight-in approach and would return to a point where we would use a standard pattern. Meanwhile, Richard had arrived over the airport and he called in making a downwind for RWY 01. So much for beating him in!
We arrived right at noon (or at least Richard did), and others were there and waiting. They included Ray Ballantyne and Ernie Hansen (having flown in Ray’s Sportsman), Tim Alentiev (from the Crest airport in his RV-10), and Doug Medema (in his RV6A). Richard came solo in his Sling 2 and Ken and I arrived in my C172, followed by Rob Stephens making a nice landing in his VL3.
On our way, I was monitoring 121.5 MHz, on the radio, and we listened to an emergency that was unfolding south of Port Townsend. The pilot announced an engine failure and his intention to land in a field below. The event had Ken and I listening intensely. A second airplane began relaying information to Whidbey Approach, and this pilot was doing his best to locate the airplane in distress. With Whidbey’s help he did locate the airplane on a farmer’s field, noting that one car had arrived, and a second did shortly thereafter. No mention was made concerning occupants. When we landed at Packwood, the others attending our fly-out had also heard about this and we learned that the pilot was our own 430 member Dave Gardner in his Stinson. Dave had been enroute to Packwood as part of our fly-out group. More will be told about this, but if you haven’t already heard I’ll tell you that Dave did an incredible job of handling the situation, and he was not injured during the subsequent landing.
Lunchtime at Packwood for us was a Mexican fiesta at Nacho’s Restaurant. The food was both good and plentiful. While we were there we received a text from Dave saying he was awaiting a ride home, and we were all relieved.
Aidan Lara and his grandfather Jim arrived late in Emily Westcott’s C172, having left after work. In all, ten of us attended this fly-out.
Some had taken the high road, some the low road, and going back most took their same route home. On either route, the views of Mt Rainier and Mt Adams were magnificent. The low altitude route provided a scenic ride along Riffle Lake. For the ride home our spirits were high, knowing that Dave was OK.
Written by Barry Halsted.
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