Car Seat Made Toddler Lone Plane Crash Survivor
Kate Williams Hung Upside Down for Hours While Awaiting Rescue
Oct. 30, 2007 —A standard car seat may have helped save the 3-year-old lone survivor of a weekend plane crash in Canada.
Kate Williams’ face was bruised and swollen when authorities discovered the young girl in the wreckage of her grandfather’s Cessna plane Sunday. The small aircraft had gone down in the rugged terrain of British Columbia.
A business associate of the child’s grandfather was also onboard when the plane dove nose first into the icy waters of Redburn Creek in Canada’s Rocky Mountains en route to Edmonton, Alberta.
“It was apparent to the rescuers that two males onboard were deceased, however, a 3-year-old child was located in the back seat,” said Sgt. Marko Shehovac of Golden Royal Canadian Mountain Police. “I think that the care in placing the child in [the car seat] — that extra protection — is what basically saved her life.”
After the crash, the 3-year-old was suspended upside down for five hours as she awaited rescue. Searchers battled snow and fog until a helicopter spotted the plane’s tail sticking out of the water.
The rescuers used ropes to maneuver their way to the wreckage where they located Williams. The toddler was so traumatized she refused to leave the scene without her teddy bear.
She clung tightly to the toy after the rescuers brushed it clean of snow. Amazingly, her injuries were minor and the hospital already has released her.
“A sad time for the family, but at the same time, it’s a minor miracle,” Shehovac said.
http://www.abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=3793966&page=1
Her grandfather (the deceased pilot) insisted she be belted in when they flew. Belt your kids.
By: D.Stark - 29th March 2008 at 21:37
Tragic. Exactly five months after the crash that killed the founder of the company, another plane crash has killed three more of the senior management. Tragic.:(
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080329.PLANE29/TPStory/National
The tragic part about this is that the pilot of this aircraft that was one of three killed in this latest crash is the FATHER of the child that survived the earlier crash with her grandfather. Flying in northern areas at this time of year in light aircraft where the weather can quickly change from clear and sunny to snow and icing conditions in minutes is not for the faint hearted. I hope this is the last
heartache to befall this family and this company.
By: Newforest - 29th March 2008 at 21:09
Lightning does strike twice.
Tragic. Exactly five months after the crash that killed the founder of the company, another plane crash has killed three more of the senior management. Tragic.:(
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080329.PLANE29/TPStory/National
By: ATFS_Crash - 11th November 2007 at 00:59
Hear, hear!
When I flew a C172 (built in ´86) I always felt that the shoulder strap would cause severe neck and (possibly) throat injuries in a crash. One of our club instructors routinely never put it on, citing these grounds. The ridiculous seatbelts in the standard club aircraft was one of the grounds which me made convert to microlights. The ’06Remos G3/600 I fly now has a four-point harness from the automotive racing industry which positively nails you to the seat.
I saw an old safety film of a brigadier general that used to have a four point seatbelt system add on that could rig up a four point seatbelt for the front seat for most 4-seat passenger vehicles if the back seats were not being used. The over the shoulder harness was anchored to the back seatbelts. It could be quickly hooked up and removed. He used to use it in jeeps and light GA aircraft. I don’t think the system was ever officially certified or mass-produced.
I doubt it would work in a C172, though.
The brigadier general’s son died in a car accident that was estimated at about 35 MPH without a seatbelt. So he started really advocating seatbelts and harness like Colonel John Stapp.
By: galdri - 11th November 2007 at 00:25
When using any child (car) seat in an aeroplane be sure that it is approved for aeroplane use! Most car seats today are only intended for use with a three point seat belt. In my airline we only accept cild seats in the cabin that are approved for two point attachment. Somewhere on the back (or underside) you will find an FAA (or similar) sticker declearing it fit for aeroplane use with a two point attacment.
By: J Boyle - 5th November 2007 at 18:21
The real story here has more to do with Commercial Aviation.
When will
the airlines and regulators get smart and require infants on commercial jets to be in car seats?
Parents would have to buy a “real” seat for their children…and they don’t want the expense. Airlines and regulators don’t want to be seen as “bad guys” and forcing parents to buy the extra seat (which is only fair).
It’s a law the kids have to be in one to go down the street to the shops…but they aren’t required to strap the kids into a jet flying at 40,000 feet and going 600 mph (albeit with a greater safety record).
By: Kenneth - 4th November 2007 at 19:20
Seatbelts in light aircraft can be shocking in terms of provision and fixing. I wonder how many have succumb to a collision with the panel?
Hear, hear!
When I flew a C172 (built in ´86) I always felt that the shoulder strap would cause severe neck and (possibly) throat injuries in a crash. One of our club instructors routinely never put it on, citing these grounds. The ridiculous seatbelts in the standard club aircraft was one of the grounds which me made convert to microlights. The ’06Remos G3/600 I fly now has a four-point harness from the automotive racing industry which positively nails you to the seat.
By: mike currill - 4th November 2007 at 14:20
A sad story with a small consolation in that the little girl survived. God forbid she ever remembers anything of it.
By: Newforest - 4th November 2007 at 10:50
Grand-son born after funeral. Life goes on!:)
http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5hbr3urAKMo7QkctLOOL_EiKMuHNw
By: ATFS_Crash - 1st November 2007 at 02:56
Seatbelts in light aircraft can be shocking in terms of provision and fixing. I wonder how many have succumb to a collision with the panel? My old Maule had lap straps fitted to the rear, a co-owner found them totally unsuitable for sitting his children in and for also placing a child safety seat
Incorporating “safety cell” principles into the aircraft design would be nice too. IIRC Diamond boast about this.
It would seem the two adults succumbed in the collision with the panel. I suspect the survival of the child was partly due to that it was in its own separate seat in the BACK which allowed additional crumple zone.
In any case, it is a case for study, because the child survived.
By: Newforest - 31st October 2007 at 23:26
Another longer report from the Globe and Mail describing the rescue and how near this could have turned into a tragedy.:) Interesting to think that Katie will probably have no memory of this accident in her later life apart from the newspaper cuttings.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20071030.SURVIVOR30/TPStory/Nationa
By: BlueRobin - 31st October 2007 at 18:48
Seatbelts in light aircraft can be shocking in terms of provision and fixing. I wonder how many have succumb to a collision with the panel? My old Maule had lap straps fitted to the rear, a co-owner found them totally unsuitable for sitting his children in and for also placing a child safety seat
Incorporating “safety cell” principles into the aircraft design would be nice too. IIRC Diamond boast about this.
Sign In
October 31, 2007 at 4:38 pm