by Carol Shaben
15 “Why isn’t the needle swinging?”: Interview with Erik Vogel, October 21, 2003.
2. IMPACT
1 “The plane finally came to rest upside down 684 feet from where it had first hit the trees”: Canadian Aviation Safety Board Civil Aviation Occurrence Report Number 84-H40006, 8.
2 “I’m going to die”: Paul Archambault, “They Called Me a Hero,” unpublished manuscript, 1985, 21.
3 “You dumb, fucking asshole!”: Larry Shaben interview, October 10, 2004.
4 “One end was wet, so he tore it off”: Archambault, “They Called Me a Hero,” 34.
PART II
Epigraph: Leonardo Da Vinci, Codex Forster III, 66v.
3. FLIGHT
1 “if you survived a summer at La Ronge, then you must be okay”: Author correspondence with Vogel, September 20, 2007.
2 “Bush pilots have the highest mortality rate of any commercial pilots”: CNN Money, “America’s Most Dangerous Jobs,” August 26, 2011, http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2011/pf/jobs/1108/gallery.dangerous_jobs/4.html.
3 “Tell him to go away”: Vogel interview, November 8, 2011.
4 “we’d never stay in business”: Ted Grant recalls his former partner, Paul Jones—a long-time bush pilot—expressing similar sentiments. Interview with Ted Grant, June 21, 2012.
4. WAPITI
1 “Dale Wells would get in the airplane and make him do the flight again”: The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the fifth estate, 1985–1986, episode 20: “Dead Reckoning.”
2 “Fourteen pilots had quit or been fired from the airline in the previous six months”: Judgment in Court Action No. T-1637-85 between Sally Margaret Swanson and Her Majesty the Queen, February 6, 1990, 15.
3 “failed to conduct the mandatory airworthiness inspections”: Transport Canada notices of aircraft conditions for Wapiti Aviation Ltd., October 2, 1984. Courtesy of Dale Wells.
4 “It didn’t strike me as a place I wanted to stay a long time”: Canadian Aviation Safety Board, Wapiti Aviation Ltd. Inquiry Proceedings, H40006, 141–42.
5 “take this flight or you won’t be taking any”: Judgment in Court Action No. T-1637-85 between Sally Margaret Swanson and Her Majesty the Queen, February 6, 1990, 15.
6 “I’ve got a flight to McMurray and I really could use a co-pilot”: Vogel interview, October 21, 2003.
7 “pilots who broke the rules”: Department of Transport telephone record of discussion between Jim Powell and Dave McCracken, October 15, 1984. Courtesy of Dale Wells.
8 “engaged the autopilot on his plane and it responded erratically”: Vogel interview, October 21, 2003.
9 “practice of terminating pilots before their ninetieth day of employment to avoid having to provide two weeks’ notice and holiday pay”: Judgment in Court Action No. T-1637-85 between Sally Margaret Swanson and Her Majesty the Queen, February 6, 1990, 14.
10 “Pretty ugly icing up there”: Vogel interview, October 21, 2003.
11 “I barely made it off”: Vogel interview, May 12, 2009.
12 “Ceiling 1,000 ft broken, 2,000 ft overcast”: Canadian Aviation Safety Board Civil Aviation Occurrence Report Number 84-H40006, 5.
13 “support be given to Wapiti Aviation, for the establishment of a regularly scheduled air service, whereby the Carrier could overfly localities in the event that there was no confirmed traffic”: Minutes of a meeting held at the Town of Fairview Provincial Building to discuss the feasibility of establishing a scheduled air service from Grande Prairie to Edmonton via Fairview–Peace River–High Prairie–Slave Lake, March 2, 1982. Courtesy of Dale Wells.
14 “I am in complete support of the entire concept”: Larry Shaben, Alberta Minister of Utilities and Telephones, correspondence with Ike Lawrence, chairman, High Prairie Airport Commission, April 1, 1982. Courtesy of Dale Wells.
15 “RCMP had written Dale a letter alleging violations of regulations”: Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Memorandum 1413-83, February 1, 1983. Courtesy of Dale Wells.
16 “This nonsense has got to stop”: Carol Picard, “Pilot Admits Flight Unsafe,” Edmonton Sun, December 17, 1985.
PART III
Epigraph: “Dark Night of the Soul” by Saint John of the Cross: A. Z. Foreman, “Poems Found in Translation,” http://poemsintranslation.blogspot.com.
5. THRESHOLD
2 “There was a long, ear-splitting grrrrrrrr”: “Terrible Crack Signaled Disaster,” Calgary Herald, October 22, 1984.
6. BURIED
3 “The world around him was a mixture of muted white and dim shadow”: Scott Deschamps, “Once Upon an Angel: The Story of Flight 418,” Simon Fraser University, Master of Arts in Liberal Studies essay, 2009, 1.
2 “Why can’t I find the windows?”: Vogel interview, October 21, 2003.
3 “I have to get out of here now. I can’t breathe!”: Canadian Aviation Safety Board, Wapiti Aviation Ltd. Inquiry Proceedings, H40006, 229.
4 “The person’s jaw was crushed. It felt to Paul like mush or rubber”: Archambault, “They Called Me a Hero,” 23.
7. FIRE
1 “It seemed to Paul that Larry and Erik had no mind or that they were really dazed”: Archambault, “They Called Me a Hero,” 25.
2 “I’m happy you’re here”: Ibid., 26.
3 “Where’s your friend?”: Vogel interview, October 21, 2003.
4 “Paul moved around touching everyone he could, but they were all dead.”: Archambault, “They Called Me a Hero,” 26.
5 “His right arm was stuffed into the pilot’s flight bag”: Ibid.
8. MISSING
1 “Over the past few days the weather had truly been a concern”: Luella Wood, personal diary, October 21, 1984.
2 “Edie, anybody call?”: Interview with Luella Wood, July 20, 2011.
3 “She couldn’t explain it, but things just didn’t seem right”: Wood diary, October 21, 1984. Wood later noted that there was “hardly a Wapiti pilot who came through High Prairie who wasn’t worried” when it came to mechanical issues or a potential accident: Wood interview, June 25, 2012.
4 “Pacific Western Airlines Flight 594”: Canadian Aviation Safety Board Civil Aviation Occurrence Report Number 84-H40006, 9.
5 “It can’t be”: Wells interview, December 22, 2007.
6 “RCMP is here and the military has launched a search”: Wood diary, October 21, 1984.
7 “find out if any other government members from the north are on that plane”: Interview with Bob Giffin, June 2, 2011.
8 “Grant had stayed over in Edmonton because the Wapiti flight had been fully booked”: Ibid.
9 “He’d caught a flight out of Edmonton”: Peter Stockland, “Notley Kids Broke News,” Edmonton Sun, October 22, 1984.
10 “Del had not wanted to get on a plane since”: Wells interview, December 22, 2007.
11 “had demonstrated strong airmanship, the ability to think on his feet, and a good awareness of what was going on around him”: Canadian Aviation Safety Board, Wapiti Aviation Ltd. Inquiry Proceedings, H40006, 315.
12 “During passenger check-in Dale had briefly considered taking the flight himself”: Wells interview, December 22, 2007.
13 “prima donna pilots who’d come and gone over the years”: Ibid.
14 “They wanted everything handed to them on a platter”: Ibid.
15 “I’m in the vicinity and I’m going to try to locate the ELT signal”: Wood diary, October 21, 1984.
16 “All hell’s breaking loose”: Interview with Marvin Hopkins, June 14, 2011.
17 “Don’t crash”: Interview with Dave Heggie, June 13, 2011.
9. CONFESSION
1 “He’d diagnosed his own condition as a flail chest”: Deschamps interview, December 5, 2007.
2 “there are four chocolate chip cookies in that bag”: Vogel interview, October 21, 2003.
3 “He’s going to kill me for crashing the plane”: Ibid.
4 “we’re not leaving you. Rescue is coming soon”: Archambault, “They
Called Me a Hero,” 27.
5 “Does the government consider there is, if not a legal obligation, a moral obligation for restitution?”: Alberta Hansard, Legislative Assembly of Alberta, October 19, 1984, 1219.
6 “I could tell he was hurting physically and emotionally”: Larry Shaben interview, October 10, 2004.
10. SEARCH
1 “ceiling of zero feet and one-eighth of a mile visibility”: Search and Rescue Mission Report 8400448, SAR Vogel, October 19–20, 1984. Obtained through Access to Information Request A-2011-00242, Library and Archives Canada.
2 “Paul commented on how beautiful they were, busted up and covered in blood”: Archambault, “They Called Me a Hero,” 27.
3 “Any time you can walk away from an airplane, you’re lucky”: Peter Stockland, “Shaben Describes Nightmare,” Edmonton Sun, October 23, 1984.
4 “the signal was weak and distorted, often fading in and out as if obscured by something unseen below”: Rescuers later discovered that the cause was the plane’s upturned position, which had partially buried the ELT antennae in the snow.
5 “he was sure it had been the man’s soul leaving his body”: Interview with Daniel Archambault, April 1, 2009.
6 “Airport ’77”: Archambault, “They Called Me a Hero,” 11.
7 “What kind of chance would I have to become a cop?”: Ibid., 14.
8 “they’d turned him down because he had only one kidney”: Daniel Archambault interview, April 1, 2009.
11. ABORT
1 “We’re outta here”: Vogel interview, October 21, 2003.
2 “Why would they drop it over there?”: Ibid.
3 “ ‘Is it on?’ Paul asked, a note of sarcasm in his voice”: Deschamps, “Once Upon an Angel,” 5.
4 “decided to shut down the faltering No. 2 engine to conserve fuel”: Interview with Everett Hale, June 10, 2011.
12. CRIMINAL
1 “It’s too quiet … I don’t like it”: Deschamps, “Once Upon an Angel,” 6.
2 “If it’s not working, we’ll try to fix it”: Archambault, “They Called Me a Hero,” 33.
3 “Watch out where the huskies go, and don’t you eat that yellow snow”: Frank Zappa, “Don’t Eat the Yellow Snow,” © 1974 Munchkin Music. Grateful acknowledgement is made to Gail Zappa and the Zappa Family Trust.
4 “loss of situational awareness is responsible for up to 15 percent of fatal crashes”: Richard Leland, “Night VFR: An Oxymoron?” Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education and Research, Vol. 9, No. 1 (Fall 1999), 13–15, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
5 “Fatigue is by far the most common physiological factor contributing to aviation mishaps”: Ibid.
6 “I’m going to pass out”: Archambault, “They Called Me a Hero,” 34.
7 “The little bugger’s a chain-smoker”: Larry Shaben interview, October 10, 2004.
8 “a B and E occurred and $10,000 was stolen from the club”: Jack Aubry, “Quebec Court Gives Hero Probation for Break and Enter,” Ottawa Citizen, January 9, 1985.
9 “turned down the idles on every cop car that came in for repair”: Daniel Archambault interview, April 1, 2009.
10 “Paul was locked up inside a windowless concrete room where he slept on the floor”: Archambault, “They Called Me a Hero,” 4.
11 “I’m a human being just like you”: Ibid.
13. ICE
1 “He closed his eyes and tried to conjure some long-forgotten God”: Deschamps, “Once Upon an Angel,” 8.
2 “he was not going to get out of here alive”: Ibid., 9.
3 “having kids as nothing more than an outdated biological urge”: Ibid., 10.
4 “Scott knew with utter certainty that he was looking into the face of an otherworldly presence: God, an angel or a benevolent spirit”: Ibid., 11.
5 “Larry stepped behind him and embraced Paul in a firm bear hug”: Archambault, “They Called Me a Hero,” 31.
6 “Even as a child, he had felt his dad’s constant disapproval”: Daniel Archambault interview, April 1, 2009.
7 “had talked her doctor into letting her go home early to be with her husband and children”: Tom Barrett, “Father and 14 Children Fear Future,” Edmonton Journal, October 23, 1984, 1.
8 “someone below had to be alive and cycling the switch”: Interview with Hazen Codner, June 28, 2011.
9 “Vivid in his mind were the images of corpses lying frozen and lifeless in the car wrecks he’d responded to during his time as an RCMP officer in northern Alberta”: Deschamps, “Once Upon an Angel,” 7.
10 “fire off a couple of shots and bring the planes circling back”: Archambault, “They Called Me a Hero,” 37.
11 “afraid that the fire might spread and gut the fuselage”: Ibid., 33.
12 “We’re alive! We’re here!”: Ibid., 31.
13 “My wallet. It’s still in the plane”: Larry Shaben interview, October 10, 2004.
14 “If you had one wish you could have fulfilled right now”: Ibid.
15 “I’d tell my wife I’m sorry”: Ibid.
16 “When this is all over we’re going to get together and have a few drinks”: Archambault, “They Called Me a Hero,” 35–36.
17 “Scott, do you know that you’re a sniveller?”: Ibid., 36.
18 “Campfire on the ground!”: Codner interview, June 28, 2011.
14. RESCUE
1 “In daylight, he saw everything in gruesome detail”: Archambault, “They Called Me a Hero,” 38.
2 “An orb of ice the size of a racket ball hung from his mouth”: Ibid.
3 “Larry, wake up!”: Deschamps, “Once Upon An Angel,” 13.
4 “You must be stoned or something”: Archambault, “They Called Me a Hero,” 38.
5 “We’re going to be found here, so we stay together”: Ibid., 35.
6 “We’re not going to last much longer”: Deschamps, “Once Upon an Angel,” 15.
7 “That’s strange. He was trying to figure out why on earth a canoe would be in the middle of the wilderness”: Interview with Bill Burton, September 23, 2011.
8 “The guys on the ground need your help”: Interview with Brian Dunham, July 19, 2011.
9 “You don’t by any chance have a Thermos of coffee in your pack?”: Archambault, “They Called Me a Hero,” 39.
10 “I was just so sure Grant was one of the survivors”: Peter Stockland, “Notley Kids Broke News,” Edmonton Sun, October 22, 1984, 12.
11 “I think she suspected because the Mounties had turned off the radio”: Allan Kellog, “Knocking on the Door of the Dome,” Edmonton Journal, April 14, 2007.
12 “What are you doing with that knife? Get rid of it”: Archambault, “They Called Me a Hero,” 30.
13 “He can’t forget this because his gun and handcuffs are inside”: Ibid., 57.
14 “It was the greatest feeling in the world”: Ibid., 40.
PART IV
15. HERO
1 “He saved my life”: John Colebourn, “Prisoner Saves Officer,” Edmonton Sun, October 21, 1984, 21.
2 “Larry wanted to step down from the plane under his own steam”: Giffin interview, June 2, 2011.
3 “The memory of the two girls running by me crying is locked in my mind as though it happened yesterday”: Interview with Byron Christopher, October 8, 2011.
4 “Was he killed or wasn’t he?”: Hopkins interview, June 14, 2011.
5 “Grant’s gone”: Ibid.
6 “I had to be chained to my bed like an animal”: Archambault, “They Called Me a Hero,” 44–45.
7 “He saved Deschamps’ life”: Larry Shaben, October 10, 2004.
8 “Duncan took Erik’s hand and held it so long that Erik felt uncomfortable”: Vogel interview, October 21, 2003.
9 “I’m not a rapist or a rat, so why the isolation?”: Archambault, “They Called Me a Hero,” 48.
10 “Paul Archambault did an outstanding job”: Tom Barrett, “Shaben Thankful Number Not Called,” Edmonton Journal, October 22, 1984, 1.
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11 “I just did what I thought had to be done”: Gary Poignant, “Prisoner Downplays ‘Hero’ Role,” Edmonton Sun, October 22, 1984, 21.
12 “He lasted hours”: Darcy Henton, “Dying Man’s Moans Haunt Air Crash Hero,” Edmonton Journal, October 23, 1984.
13 “He was quiet and respectful”: Interview with Kenneth Staples, October 14, 2011.
14 “The judge then excused him from the courtroom”: Canadian Press, “Charges Dismissed, Crash Hero Freed,” The Globe and Mail, October 23, 1984.
15 “They smelled something fierce of fire”: Archambault, “They Called Me a Hero,” 51.
16 “didn’t even have the coins to wash his smoke-smelling clothes”: Canadian Press, “Charges Dismissed, Crash Hero Freed,” The Globe and Mail, October 23, 1984.
17 “That way my feet are on the ground and I like the view”: Gary Poignant, “Prisoner Downplays ‘Hero’ Role”, Edmonton Sun, October 22, 1984, 21.
18 “Like, one minute they couldn’t give a shit who I was and then the next minute I’m something great”: Havard Gould, “Archambault Here,” CBC Newsday, television footage, Ottawa, January 4, 1985.
19 “I didn’t do anything different than a whole lot of other people would have done in that situation”: Citizen Staff and News Services, “Hero of Crash Wants to Be Left Alone,” Ottawa Citizen, October 23, 1984.
20 “I don’t want to get hounded”: Ibid.
21 “he hoped Albertans who wanted to contribute to a fund for him ‘won’t go crazy” ’: Agnes Buttner, “Brighter Prospects for Hero,” Edmonton Journal, October 26, 1984, A12.
