Two Hesperia Men Die Following Light Plane Crash at Conway Summit Two Hesperia men died after their light plane crashed near the top of Conway Summit Thursday, Jan. 30. According to local authorities, John C. Brown, 45, was pronounced dead at the scene, which was approximately one mile west of U.S. 395 at the 8,500-foot elevation.

Carl Hokenson, 59, was removed from the plane by search and rescue personnel and flown to Washoe Medical Center in Reno, after being treated at the Mono General Hospital. A Washoe medical spokesman said Hokenson died early Sunday afternoon as the result of injuries received in the crash.

According to the sheriff's department, visibility was poor at the time of the crash, with a ceiling estimated from 300 to 400 feet. Investigators said a craft, matching the single-engined Piper that crashed, was seen flying low over Bridgeport shortly after 10:30 a.m. Authorities began searching for the craft after the state office of Emergency Services later reported an Emergency Locator Transmission signal had been picked up by satellite in an area near Mono Lake.

The craft was located after Forest Service and sheriff's department crews pinpointed the emergency signal by the use of ground-based radio equipment. Investigators said the plane did not burn on impact. Reports were that the pair was flying back to Hesperia from Reno when the crash occurred.

June Lake Search and Rescue team personnel, Bridgeport Volunteer Fire Department, Bodie State Park rangers, Forest Service and Mono Sheriff's personnel took part in the search and rescue operation.

From The Review newspaper report by Mike Yorkey:

L.A. Pair Rescued After Three-Day Ordeal in Ansel Adams Wilderness - A Los Angeles couple spent nearly three days in the back-country behind Mammoth Mountain before they were rescued Tuesday morning by search and rescue teams.

Twenty-four-year-olds Megan Kassube and Andy Reiner of Los Angeles were skiing the backside of Mammoth Mountain off Chair 14 Sunday when they skied past several boundary signs without seeing them. The couple left the ski area between "Boundary Creek" and "Turkey Gulch" around noon.

They were supposed to meet several friends at 4:30 p.m. for the return trip to Los Angeles. Rod Navali, a friend, checked their room in Mammoth at 6 and shortly afterward notified the Mono County Sheriff's Department that the couple were missing.

A search was begun Monday morning at 8:15, directed by the sheriff's department. A large helicopter from LeMoore Naval Air Station near Fresno was dispatched, along with the Mammoth Heli-Ski helicopter. Personnel from the Mammoth Mountain Ski Patrol and the June Lake Search and Rescue Team provided the on-the-ground search.

Meanwhile Kassube and Reiner skied to Sotcher Lake and found Red's Meadow Road. They followed snowmobile tracks on the road to the switchback at Agnew Meadows. If they had continued to follow Red's Meadow Road, they would have reached Minaret Summit in 90 minutes, but the couple reversed their direction and headed back toward Pumice Flats.

With darkness falling, they covered themselves with pine branches for the night. Rising at 5 a.m., they moved downstream toward Rainbow Falls and out of the search area.

The LeMoore and Mammoth Heli-ski helicopters took turns flying Monday but could not spot the Southland skiers, who were dressed in dark clothing.

The couple spent their second night outdoors near Rainbow Falls. Fortunately, daytime temperatures were unseasonably warm in the 50s and nighttime temperatures were around 27 degrees.

The skiers continued downstream-away from Mammoth Mountain-early Tuesday morning. Around 8:15 a.m., the Mammoth Heli-Ski helicopter carrying pilot Michael Smart, heli-ski director Wally Oldham and Mammoth Mountain Ski Patrol Director Gary Reitman found the couple.

"I spotted them waving their arms, ski poles, skis, anything," said Oldham. "Boy, were they glad to see us."

The skiers were in good physical condition but hungry, thirsty and cold. They were described as being "very happy" to be alive after spending two chilly nights in the backcountry.

"Luckily for them the weather was warm," said Oldham.

The skiers will be receiving a bill for the search and rescue efforts. Mammoth Heli-Ski donated personnel but the pair will be charged $1,500 for the two days of helicopter time.

Three Mountain Climbers Rescued - Three southland mountain climbers were rescued from Crystal Crag Sunday, with one woman being flown to Centinela Hospital in Inglewood with serious injuries.

According to the Mono County Sheriff's Department, Ann Camarena, 53, of Costa Mesa suffered a fractured arm and leg and a depressed skull fracture when she fell 150 feet while climbing.

Camarena was removed from the location with a helicopter, which was being used by Mammoth Mountain Ski Area to set lift towers at June Mountain. She was taken to Centinela Mammoth Hospital and then transferred to Southern California in stable, but serious, condition.

Two other climbers, Todd Thompson, 23, and Mary Wilson, 43, both of Costa Mesa, were rescued from the location with ropes by members of the June Lake Mountain Rescue Team.

The rescue team safely removed two of Camarena's companions, who became stranded on a ledge at the location. Todd Thompson, 23, and Mary Wilson, 43, both of Costa Mesa, were lowered by rope from the crag and escorted out by team members.