Patient Could Be Seventh Crash Fatality

(CBS/AP)  A critically ill patient could become the seventh fatality of a plane crash that killed six members of an organ transplant team en route to save his life.

The patient, who was on the operating table when the plane went down in Lake Michigan on Monday, is back on the waiting list for another organ.

Divers resumed their search Wednesday in water as much as 50 feet deep, mapping the wreckage and bringing up debris for examination by National Transportation Safety Board investigators. The donor organ, which was packed in ice in a cooler, has not been found.

Hospital officials and organ-donation authorities would not identify the transplant patient other than to say he was a man, and would not say what type of organ he was awaiting, citing medical privacy rules.

But one of the doctors killed was a cardiac surgeon, suggesting the patient was about to get a new heart or lungs.

"It was a very sad moment in the operating room" when word came that the plane had gone down on its way from Milwaukee, said Dr. Jeffrey Punch, chief of transplant surgery at the University of Michigan Health System hospital in Ann Arbor.

The Cessna 550 Citation crashed about 5 p.m., shortly after takeoff. National Transportation Safety Board investigator John Brannen said the pilot had signaled an emergency and was making a left turn and heading back to the Milwaukee airport when the plane went down in 57-degree water.

The crash is under investigation.

Both pilots, two University of Michigan surgeons, and two technicians whose job was to prepare the organ for transplant, were killed.

Hospital officials would not disclose how far along the surgery was, but said that typically they do not remove a transplant recipient's old organ until they have a replacement ready.

Hearts can last outside the body for only four to six hours and lungs eight hours, said Dr. Tony D'Alessandro, executive director of the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinic Organ Procurement Organization.

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[gordon.couger]

If the plane went in inverted as witness said. He was probably stalled when he had a problem on take off and tried to get back to the airport. When he turns around from going into the wind to going down wind he looses too much air speed and stalled out. One wing will stall before the other and will fall out of the air first. The other wing that still has lift turns the plan upside down and it hit the ground before the plane get enough air speed to level up and fly out of the inverted attitude.

If you have a departure problem below an altitude you can dive down to build up enough air speed to make a turn and still get back to the airport landing straight ahead is always the best option not matter if its a lake, Forrest or what. Just don't land where you kill people. It is better than ending up upside down with the prop in the ground at 160-200 mph. Your chances are better with an easy landing in 47 degree water than nose in.

Gordon

[kirstinharr]

My husband is a retired USAF Pararescueman. "That others may live" is a motto for their group. Clearly, these civilians lived by that credo...they risked their lives to save another and paid the ultimate price. Their families are in our prayers.

[flyboy221]

Aero medical flights are one of the most dangerous flight operations there are. Especially helicopter operations, the FAA has been negligent in their oversight of these operators for years. The NTSB has repeatedly tried to get the FAA to increase oversight of these operators with no luck. The flying public, especially those that need critical care deserve better.

[chatterboy1]

I received a kidney transplant September 19th, 2002 at the University of Michigan transplant center from a cadaver donor. I send my deepest condolences to the families of the victims and I also send my thoughts and prayers to the patient who was suppose to receive the transplant. I hope everything goes okay for the patient and another transplant comes soon.

[chatterboy1]

I want to extend my deepest sympathy to the families of the victims in this tragic story, and I also want to send my thoughts and prayers to the person who was waiting for the transplant. I know what its like to wait for so long for a transplant. I waited five years for a kidney transplant and finally received mine on September 19th, 2002 from a cadaver. I received my transplant at the University of Michigan transplant center. Again, I send my deepest sympathy to the families and also to all the people who work at the transplant center.

[nolalou]

Very sad story, with many families hurt by this.

I re-read the story, and from what I can determine, I think the comment that "People could survive for 16 hours in 57-degree water." was not meant to refer to this specific accident.

The same Coast Guard Capt. is also quoted saying

"The condition of the aircraft debris and human remains found indicate a high-speed impact," "We believe this to have been a non-survivable crash."

It sound like they must have died on impact.

[jimlocke1]

My heart goes out to the families of those who gave their lives so that others may live.

[lanaedawn]

sassalin

The last paragraph says that the Coast Guard Captain (Jones) said people could live 16 hours in 57-degree water.

"Jones estimated the plane was going 185 to 190 mph. He said people could survive for 16 hours in 57-degree water."

[alphaa10-2009]

toldyouso21 said, "... They got there in 20 minutes--enough time for the cold to do its work."
---
Your comment is that other factors made this rescue difficult.

Granted, but really beside the original point. A rescue beacon helps speed response and avoid wasting time with a pattern search. If any possibility of survival exists, a rescue beacon can only help.

[ajaxrose1]

This is so sad. My sympathies go out to all of them and their families all the way around. This just seems so unfair that good people such as these would meet such a fate. There are those in the world who exist only to destroy others that just keep on existing and destroying. My heart is heavy for the folks on the plane and all the people involved who were trying to save a life and do good in the world. Blessings to the families and to the transplant patient.