3 Survive After Plane Crashes on Mountain. How Snow Helped

• On the morning of Wednesday, Feb. 26, a small airplane crashed near the summit of Mount Equinox in Vermont
• The three people in the aircraft had to be lifted out by helicopter, sustaining “non-life threatening injuries,” according to officials
• Rescuers had to navigate four feet of snow that helped “cushion” the plane’s landing, according to First Assistant Fire Chief Jamie Greene

Three people were injured, but survived, after a small airplane crashed on the side of a mountain in Vermont, according to authorities. 

The crash took place on the morning of Wednesday, Feb. 26, First Assistant Fire Chief Jamie Greene of the Manchester Fire Department confirmed at a press conference later that day. All three individuals sustained “non-life threatening injuries” and were taken to local hospitals, according to Greene, who said that one person had to be airlifted.

Although the cause of the crash remains unknown, Greene said that the pilot and two passengers were “awake” and “aware” when they were rescued from an elevation of approximately 3,200 feet.

The rescue was a daunting one. After the 911 call came in at 8:33 a.m. local time, roughly 100 people arrived at different spots around Mount Equinox to coordinate the rescue efforts and navigate the “rugged terrain.”

It wasn’t until 10:16 a.m. that the crash site was located, Greene said. 

In addition to the snow and cold conditions, rescue teams had to navigate heavy fog that covered half of the mountain.

“Once you got about halfway up the mountain, they were in four feet deep of snow,” Greene said. “Literally, it was waist-deep.”

When the three injured people were found, two NYS rangers dropped to the site from the helicopter that had been requested. 

“They did an assessment from the air, which in return they dropped two rangers out of their basket down on the ground, so they could help assess with the patient care,” said Greene. “And then we made a game plan moving forward, how to get them out of there.”

A basket was then lowered to recover each passenger, one at a time.

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Although Greene acknowledged the pilot’s ability to navigate safely during the plane’s unexpected descent, he believes that without the snow on the ground, the outcome “could have been” different.

“Obviously, the snow helped cushion in the fall,” said Greene. “The way that the fuselage went in the snow really helped cushion everything.” 

On Friday, Feb. 28, Greene and his team are scheduled to take a FAA investigator to the crash site. Towards the end of his report, he thanked everyone who responded to the crash. 

“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the community for their invaluable assistance,” said Greene. “Your support, whether through providing snowshoes, snowmobiles or food, played a crucial role in ensuring a successful rescue operation.”