My wife and I suffered an engine failure while flying over the Hungry Horse Reservoir in Montana.  Our only option was to make an emergency water landing as we had mountains on both sides and no other place to land.

Upon impact, the cockpit completely flooded with water.  My wife had loosened her harness and managed to kick out the front windshield and swim out. I was trapped in my harness and was drowning underwater. After taking in quite a bit of water I managed to get loose of my harness and my wife grabbed my arm and helped me out.

We were on the right wing and found our ResQLink VIEW RLS PLB beacon floating next to us.  The rocky shoreline made us swim with all of our clothes and shoes to shore; we almost didn’t make it. After arriving on shore, the shivering was so severe I could hardly turn the beacon on.

The next three hours was an attempt to survive on the shores of a mountain lake in November.  We were surrounded by snow and were soaking wet.  I was unable to access my emergency rescue bag after the cockpit flooded with water.

After 3 harrowing hours of pushing ourselves to keep moving, we saw some lights by the plane; it was the Flathead County Sheriff – Darrin Wise.  Shortly thereafter two helicopters arrived from Two Bear Air Rescue; it was like God descending from the heavens.

They hoisted each one of us up to a separate helicopter and flew us to to the local emergency department.

Two Bear charges nothing.  They are the product of Whitefish, MT philanthropist Michael Groguen.  We are forever grateful to Mr. Groguen and the rescue team; Rob Cherot (Pilot), Wil Milam (Hoist Operator), Scott Seager (Rescue Specialist), and Officer Darrin Wise.