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Plane crash

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BENNINGTON, Vt. — New York State Police Aviation received a call to assist with a plane crash on Mount Equinox in Bennington County, Vermont at 9:20 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 26. The report indicated three passengers were aboard the plane at the time of the crash, and had called 911 themselves to report the crash.

DEC Forest Ranger John Gullen is lowered down to the crash scene on Mount Equinox near Bennington, Vermont, by State Police Technical Flight Officer Trooper Kevin Aurigema on Wednesday, Feb. 26. (Provided photo — New York state Department of Environmental Conservation)

DEC Forest Rangers John Gullen and Michael Thompson were preparing for a day of hoist training out of Albany International Airport with State Police Pilots Sgt. John Anderton and Maj. Jonathan Sperber, as well as Technical Flight Officer Trooper Kevin Aurigema.

“We walked in right at the perfect time,” Gullen said in an interview released by the DEC.

Vermont did not have the aviation resources to assist with the rescue, leading to the mutual aid request from New York, according to the DEC. When the call came in, the crew piloted the rescue helicopter to the crash site. At 12:15 p.m., Aurigema lowered both Forest Rangers to the subjects. Rangers packaged the patients and Aurigema hoisted them into the helicopter.

“It was a very heavily wooded area, but we found them,” Sperber said.

An ambulance took two of the patients to the hospital and a MedFlight transported the third patient. It was unclear what the extent of the injuries were, but everyone involved in the crash is expected to survive, according to the DEC.

Plane wreckage is seen on Mount Equinox near Bennington, Vermont on Wednesday, Feb. 26. Everyone on the plane survived, according to responders. (Provided photo — New York state Department of Environmental Conservation)

The response involved a number of agencies, whom Aurigema said did a good job at coordinating between each other.

“Very good communication between (New York) State Police, Forest Rangers, Manchester, (Vermont) PD, Vermont State Police (and) Vermont Game Wardens,” he said.

A video featuring the photos and interviews with rescuers is available on DEC’s Facebook page at tinyurl.com/3cevs7fs.

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Snowmobiler ejected in Inlet

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INLET — The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office requested DEC Forest Ranger assistance with a snowmobile crash on Uncas Road at 1:56 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 28. When Rangers Miller and Scott arrived, Inlet Fire and EMS and Raquette Lake Fire were already on scene. The 23-year-old from Schenectady struck a tree and was ejected from his snowmobile. The snowmobiler temporarily lost consciousness. Rangers assisted other rescuers in packaging the subject, and an Inlet ambulance transported the subject to a hospital for treatment.

It was unclear what the extent of the snowmobiler’s injuries were or what their post-incident recovery status is.

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Difficult search onIndian Lake

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INDIAN LAKE — DEC Forest Rangers Robert Hamm and Allison O’Connell responded to a report from Hamilton County Dispatch about a missing snowmobiler last seen on Mason Lake at 8:20 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 28. The 70-year-old from New Jersey separated from riding partners when he started having mechanical issues and by the time he started travelling again, he lost the group. Rangers searched with negative results and requested two additional rangers to assist.

DEC Forest Rangers Gary Miller and Jason Scott joined the efforts and searched Indian Lake. Darkness, snow and heavy winds made the tracks impossible to follow. Rangers, Indian Lake Fire Department and State Police continued searching. At 12:30 a.m., Miller and Scott followed a faint set of tracks and found the snowmobiler on the east shore of the lake. Rangers replaced the drive belt on the snowmobile and assisted the subject to Lake Shore Road for evaluation by Indian Lake EMS.

It was unclear if the snowmobiler had any injuries.