HART has had various small boat experience including two tours on the Oregon Coast. On 16 January 1975 the investigating received an oral statement from BMC HART (the party).Įxcerpts from this statement that amplify or conflict with the prepared statement submitted by the Party are presented as follows:īMC. We had been located and a short time later a Coast Guard Helicopter landed and transported us to Juneau airport. I lit a smoke flare and CWO LAPINSKI ran toward the beach and lit a smoke flare. At about this time a CAP airplane flew overhead. By this time the rest of the crew and the civilians had left 44392 and were bringing more equipment to the shelter area. By this time the tide had receded far enough for us to leave the boat without getting any wetter.ĬWO LAPINSKI and myself were able to get several items onto the cliff and locate an area where we could fabricate a shelter. We wanted to fix some kind of shelter and get a fire started. We decided that we had better prepare for the worst and started removing various material to the beach. At approximately 1030 CWO LAPINSKI and myself moved to the survivors compartment. It was my intention to remain with 44392 through the flood tide in hoping the 44392 would lodge between rocks and await the tide to ebb. We removed every piece of equipment that could come loose and cause injury. I explained to the civilians that the 44-foot MLB was the strongest boat ever built by the Coast Guard that we were going to stay with the boat just as long as possible that to brace themselves in, hang onto the children, be extremely careful so as not to hit the corners of the inverters and radar rack units in the galley compartment. I further informed all hands that I had made radio contact with Juneau radio. I did not relate the distance to the beach as I felt this would panic the civilian passengers. When I returned to the galley area I gave a description of where we were to all personnel. The beach being on the starboard beam and the wind and seas pounding from the port beam to quarter. 44392 had settled on a reef approximately 40 or 50 yards from the beach. Sometime while on the bridge I was able to shoot 2, 3, or 4 parachute flares in an attempt to determine where 44392 was-where the beach was. While on the bridge, 44392 continued to take breakers over the deck and super-structure. The receiver/transmitter unit being on the bridge, I returned to the bridge and broadcast MAYDAY on CH 16, giving my location, casualty, aground, engine-room flooding, wind and sea condition, number of people on board. At approximately 0420 I heard WRN 40, Juneau radio calling 44392 on VHF/FM CH16. I attempted to broadcast MAYDAY on 2182 KHZ, and CH 7 SSB but did not receive any answer. CWO LAPINSKI and myself were on the bridge and after we hit we entered the galley space dogging the door behind us. It was just a few seconds later that 44392 struck and settled on a reef. It felt to me as if it had struck forward on the port side. The horizontal visibility was just a few yards due to the heavy sea smoke.Īt approximately 0400, 44392 struck a rock. We attempted to pick out other lighted aids but with negative results except for that once I was able to make out Rocky Island. I had whoever happened to be lookout keep telling me the relative bearing of these lights and I would attempt to take a compass bearing and steer in this fashion. I was not able to see any of these lights myself because of the ice on the glass. Several times when the wind and sea would hit 44392 my heading would change as much as 90°.Īs I worked South, MK1 MACK was able to make out the lights from the houses on Sisters Island. When this happened I would be forced to bring 44392 in a 360° turn to return to 230° Magnetic. I found that the wind and sea would swing 44392 as much as 180°. I attempted to hold 230° Magnetic, thinking that course would account for the effects of wind and current. I found it extremely difficult to maintain any kind of a course. I attempted to steer toward Sisters Island with the starboard engine my only means of power. At one time I was able to see Rocky Island light with Sisters Island light to the right. I was using the Loom of Sister's Island Light (the Loom appeared as diffused illumination upon the sky) as my guide. I changed course so as to work into Icy Strait.
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