Idaho hunter survives plane crash, nights in woods

TALKEETNA — Alaska State Troopers say an Idaho man survived a plane crash, a five-mile hike with serious injuries and a night and a half in the wilderness before he was found Friday.

The crash claimed the life of pilot Frank Dinello, 48, of Big Lake, when his Super Cub went down 40 miles east of Talkeetna.

Dinello had left the Talkeetna airport at 4 p.m. Wednesday with passenger Mel Morton, 51, of Eagle, Idaho, according to trooper spokeswoman Megan Peters.

The plan was to drop Morton off, then return for a second hunter who was to join Morton at the hunting camp 40 miles east of Talkeetna, according to a trooper press statement.

Dinello and Morton never returned.

Troopers tried searching Wednesday but were turned back by weather. Thursday morning the Civil Air Patrol was able to find the wreckage of Dinello’s plane.

And, later that evening, Morton was found with help from the state’s Rescue Cooradination Center.

Peters said Morton told troopers the crash happened Wednesday and he survived but was badly hurt.

“After the wreck his clothes were on fire,” Peters said.

Morton got that fire out and also the fire burning Dinello’s clothes. He tried CPR on the pilot but was unsuccessful.

Morton had worked as an assistant hunting guide for Dinello for a number of years, Peters said.

He spent Wednesday night camped out under one of the wings of the Super Cub, Peters said.

Thursday morning, Peters said, Morton decided to attempt to find help.

“He began hiking towards the camp where he believed there were other hunters,” Peters said.

The camp was 10 miles away.

Still, despite his injuries, Morton was able to make it five miles before the pain got too bad to go on and he settled in for another night in the wilderness

But he didn’t have to spend a full night out.

Peters said that searchers in a Rescue Coordination Center helicopter was able to spot Morton through night vision goggles Thursday evening after Morton built a fire to stay warm.

He was airlifted out and eventually taken to Providence Alaska Medical Center for treatment, she said.

Contact Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.