MISSING AIRCRAFT CLUES
Terrain Changes:
o Broken or Disturbed Trees &
Underbrush
o Landslides
o Breaks in Terrain
o Blackened or Discolored Areas
o Smoke
o Scavengers-Vultures, Wolves
Smells:
o Smoke, Decomp Odors,
o Fuel, Oil, Break Fluid Smells
Pilot & Passengers:
o Bits of Clothing, Personal
Effects
o Trail Markings, Footprints,
Campfires
o Garbage, Signals, Unusual Sounds
MISSING PERSON CLUES
ACTIONS ON FIND
SITE SURVEILLANCE
DEACTIVATE BEACON
Physical Clues:
o Pieces of Clothing or Equipment
o Smoke, by sight or smell
o Food Wrappers or Trash,
Cigarette Butts
o Broken or Disturbed Trees and
Brush
o Presence of Scavengers
o Signs of Human Passage or
Occupation
o Decomposition Odors
o Halt Team in Place
o Only Call Personnel to Scene as
Required
o Assess Situation
o Provide Life Saving First Aid
o Positively Identify Target
o Send Report To Mission Base
Using Codes
o Assist Local Authorities
o Establish Staging Post on
Nearest Road
o Document Who or What Enters
or Exits Site
o Safeguard Area
o Assign At Least 2 GTMs: Sweep
Area to ID Extent of Site
o Establish Perimeter For Security
o DON’T DISTURB WRECK:
Except To Save Lives
o Take Pictures
o ID if OGA Is On Site
o Attempt to locate owner
o Get Briefing From Them
If Unavailable:
Conduct Reconnaissance:
o Contact FBO or Harbor Master &
Local LEA to Permit Access
Recorded Clues:
o Trail Registers & Sign in Logs
People:
o Witnesses
o Family & Friends
o Signals
o Falling Rocks
o Unusual Noises
HASTY SEARCH
PLAN SEARCH LINE
ORGANIZE SEARCH LINE
o Determine What Linear & Point
Features to Search
o Remind GTMs What Target Is
o Determine Hazards in the Area
o Divide Team if Necessary
o Communications Plan
o Determine Rally Point
o Lost Procedures
Search Pattern:
o Creeping Line, Expanding
Rectangle, Spiral, or Route
o Line Up Team Members Into
Formation
o Assign Members to Mark Route
o Assign Base Man & Pace Keeper
o Assign Communicator
o Assign Medic
o Determine Ownself Position
Brief Sections:
o Chain of Command
o Who’s in Sections
o Who Carries Equipment
o What to Search
o Communications Plan
o Terrain Hazards & Lost Actions
o Actions on Clue or Target Find
o Where GTL Will Be Located
o Specific Clues to Search For
o Attraction Techniques to Use
Formation:
o Line, Contour or Wedge
Interval (versus POD):
1-Person
50%
2-Person
75%
3-Person
95%
Define:
o Direction to Sweep
o Points to Stop, Turn, or
Regroup
o Panic Direction
o Hazards to Avoid in Area
Brief Team:
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Chain of Command
Search Interval & Pattern
Turning & End Points
Terrain Hazards & Panic Azimuth
Actions on Clue or Target Find
Where Team Leader Will Be
Specifics about Clues and Target
Review Signals for Line Control
o Take BBP Precautions
o Safety & Hazards Present
o Avenues of Approach to Site
o Outline of Crash Site
o Places Sentries For Good
Visibility of
o Site, Terrain, and Approaches
o Establish Hasty Perimeter &
Post
o Sentries Outside Wreck Area
o Mark Perimeter With Tape
o Command Post Position
o Deactivate Beacon & continue
monitor 121.5 to ensure it’s only 1
o Leave Distress Beacon
Deactivation Sticker or Note
Inform Mission Coordinator:
o Manufacturer, Make, Model, &
Serial #
o Battery Type & Expiration Date
o Time of Deactivation
o Aircraft or Boat ID#
o Any Other Information
o Bivouac Area
If Unable to Deactivate:
o Parking Area
o Disconnect Antenna or Use
Antenna Tent
o Shifts and Reliefs
FEET
10
20
25
30
40
50
60
70
75
80
90
100
125
150
175
200
225
250
275
300
OPEN
2.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
8.0
10.0
12.0
14.0
15.0
16.0
18.0
20.0
25.0
30.0
35.0
40.0
45.5
50.5
55.5
60.5
WOODS
2.0
4.5
5.5
6.5
9.0
11.0
13.0
15.5
16.5
17.5
20.0
22.0
27.5
33.0
38.5
44.0
49.5
55.0
60.5
66.0
METERS
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
200
OPEN
0.5
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.5
4.0
4.5
5.5
6.0
6.5
13.0
20.0
26.5
33.0
39.5
46.0
53.0
59.5
66.0
132.0
WOODS
0.5
1.5
2.0
3.0
3.5
4.5
5.0
6.0
6.5
7.0
14.5
21.5
29.0
36.0
43.0
50.5
57.5
65.0
72.0
144.0