Pilot survives Southern Oregon plane crash

By Associated Press Published: Mar 17, 2007 at 11:53 AM PST Last Updated: Mar 17, 2007 at 5:36 PM PST
Pilot survives Southern Oregon plane crash
Authorities released this photo Saturday of the downed plane. Photo courtesy of Jerry Fulstone, Oregon Wing Civil Air Patrol.

DIAMOND LAKE, Ore. (AP) - A Klamath Falls pilot survived the crash of his single-engine plane in Southern Oregon, authorities said Saturday.

Marshall Alexander, 56, the only person aboard, went down in a snowy ravine west of Diamond Lake after radioing late Friday that he was lost and his Cessna 182 was low on fuel, the Civil Air Patrol said.

The pilot had survival equipment and a satellite telephone he used to call authorities and his wife, the patrol said.

Search planes located him about 3:30 a.m., with Alexander using road flares to mark his position, the patrol said.

An Army National Guard helicopter lifted him from the crash scene about 8 a.m. He was in the Rogue-Umpqua Divide Wilderness Area in eastern Douglas County

The county sheriff's office said Alexander appeared to be in good condition. 

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)