Both Treated For Hypothermia, Cause Of Engine Failure Investigated

A little bit of luck -- in the form of unusually calm waters, and a couple well-placed helicopters -- may have played a role in the survival of two men whose Piper PA-28 Warrior (file photo of type, below) went down Monday in the frigid Hudson River just off Yonkers, NY.

Mark Sorey, 44, and 43-year-old instructor John A. Eberle were flying south along the river Monday morning when the Warrior's engine failed, according to FAA spokesman Jim Peters to the Associated Press. The pilots ditched the stricken plane in the 50-degree waters of the Hudson.

As the two pilots clung to the wreckage of the airplane, a Coast Guard helicopter on a training mission near New York City, and a NYPD helicopter based in Brooklyn flew to the scene, said Yonkers police Capt. Frank Messar.

Divers from the helicopters pulled the men from the water about 20 minutes after the accident occurred -- which, by the sound of it, was just in the nick of time for the two pilots.

"When I swam up to [Eberle], he didn't try to grab me, he didn't try to hold on to me," said NYPD Officer Liam Devine. "So I knew he was in bad condition at that time."

Officials said it was likely both men were suffering from advanced hypothermia. Two divers were also taken to the hospital for precautionary checks, which is common procedure after rescues from frigid waters.

Messar said Sorey and Eberle "were lucky the water was as calm as it was," adding Hudson River currents are often much stronger -- and could have knocked the men off the floating wreckage.

According to media reports, the two pilots had departed South Jersey Regional Airport outside Trenton for a flight along the Hudson River VFR corridor, a popular low-altitude route that affords scenic views of the river.

The pilots were flying under 1,100 feet, according to ATC reports, when Sorey called Mayday, stating the engine had gone out and they were heading into the river.

NTSB investigators are on the scene, to determine if freezing temperatures may have played a role in the accident.

**   Report created 1/3/2006   Record 8                                       **
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IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 2759M        Make/Model: PA28      Description: PA-28 CHEROKEE, ARROW, WARRIOR, ACHER, D
  Date: 01/02/2006     Time: 1652

  Event Type: Accident   Highest Injury: Minor     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Destroyed

LOCATION
  City: YONKERS   State: NY   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  ACFT CRASHED INTO THE HUDSON RIVER AFTER REPORTED A MAYDAY, THE TWO PERSONS
  ON BOARD WENT INTO THE WATER AND WERE RESCUED BY THE US COAST GUARD WITH
  UNKNOWN INJURIES, THE ACFT WAS DESTROYED, YONKERS, NY

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   0
                 # Crew:   2     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   2     Unk:   
                 # Pass:   0     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   

WEATHER: KHPN 021656Z 11003KT 7SM  BKN120 OVC150 04/01 A3018

OTHER DATA

  Departed: UNK                         Dep Date:    Dep. Time:     
  Destination:                          Flt Plan:              Wx Briefing: 
  Last Radio Cont: 
  Last Clearance: 

  FAA FSDO: GARDEN CITY, NY  (EA15)               Entry date: 01/03/2006

FMI: www.ntsb.gov