Fri, Apr 06, 2012
Her Pilot/Husband Died During A Flight, She Saves Herself
John Collins, 81, and his 80-year-old wife Helen were flying home to Sturgeon Bay, WI from Marco Island, FL in their Cessna 414A (similar aircraft pictured) when John passed away at the controls of the airplane. Helen, who according to family members had flown in the past ... but not for thirty years and never in the 414, was forced to take matters into her own hands.
The story does have a happy ending. Television station WMNN in Michigan reports that Helen Collins suffered only minor injuries when she finally got the plane on the ground, but it took the efforts of several people to bring the flight to a good resolution.
They nearly made it home. Local authorities report that the plane was only about six miles from Sturgeon Bay at about 2,300 feet when Helen took control. Emergency services were sent to both Cherryland Airport in Door County (MI) (KSUE) and Austin Straubel Airport in Brown County (WI) (KGRB) for a potential emergency landing.
Another pilot, identified as Robert Vuksanovic, took off in a Bonanza to fly alongside Helen in the 414. Vuksaonovic and his wife Catherine were friends of the Collins', and he guided her through several practice runs before attempting the actual landing.
Helen Collins advised Vuksanovic that she was low on fuel, and she eventually lost her right engine on the last approach. Local authorities said the plane landed hard on the runway, bounced, and then went down nose first, skidding across a grassy area before coming to a stop on its nose.
Helen Collins suffered minor injuries as a result of the rough landing. The county medical examiner confirmed that John Collins had passed away during the flight, and his death was not caused by the hard landing. At a news conference on Wednesday, Robert Vuksanovic said "she did a great job. This was more than a successful landing."
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