Civil Air Patrol Squadron 14

CPF 418 crew of Capt Gary Cinnamon (MPS). Capt Andrew Civin (MPT). and Lt Steve Wormley (MSS) responded first to request for crew to perform route search for missing Beech B33 flying from Red Bluff KRBL to Reno Stead Airport. Crew launched and was enroute to Lake Almanor area to begin route search toward Nevada destination. We were working in conjunction with 2 CAP aircraft from Nevada Wing. CPF 2722 was performing west bound route search and 2725 was performing high altitude electronic search for ELT. Aircraft was under Flight Following with ATC when it was lost from radar and radio communication.

After launching, subject aircraft was found safe at Stead airport. When mission page was sent for this, another page was sent for ELT in Healdsburg area north of Santa Rosa. CPF 477 based at KSTS launched about same time as CPF418. While we were returning to KSAC, we offered our assistance to IC Jim Anthony, who accepted and asked us to perform electronic search starting at Clear Lake Lamson Field then down east side of Hiway 101 to Pope Valley. Both 418 and 477 had negative results.

Upon reaching Pope Valley, CPF 418 was tasked to continue south to Gilroy area to work an open mission for 406 ELT that had eluded air and ground crews the day before. 418 went to the area and started picking up 121.5 signals in the Gilroy to Hollister area. We also received signal bursts which are typical of 406 ELT/EPIRB. The signals were weak at 6500 feet. By this time we were low on fuel, so landed at Hollister to refuel and meet with Ground Team member Eugene Carlson. He had been working the mission since day before, and from a location atop Fremont Peak, he was picking up 406 bursts on his scanner as well.

After discussing with him the areas searched, and after refueling, CPF 418 relaunched, climbed to 2500 feet and made search from San Juan Bautista to Hollister to Gilroy. When arriving over south end of Gilroy, strong 121.5 signal started along with 1 second bursts at 50 second intervals on the 406 receiver in the Becker. After making some passes and turns to follow Becker bearings, we pin pointed a location we believed was the location of the source. We passed this on to the MRO Frank Duarte to IC Dana Ray Kirsch and EDF Gene Carlson. At that hour the air crew had neared end of their crew duty day and returned to KSAC.

Phone call Monday morning to Duarte and Kirsch indicated UDF team found ELT in a dumpster very near coordinates we provided and turned it off.

Flight time of over 5 hours, working 3 separate missions. Crew felt very happy with results and success of working with BECKER DF on 406 ELT.