American Eagle Flight 3379 - December 13, 1994

Testimonials #1

Last updated: March 1, 2018

Wake County EMS

As printed in the January 1995 issue of WCEMS News.

Introduction

Several of you have asked questions about the American Eagle Flight 3379 crash on December 13, 1994. The following are the answers to some of your inquires.

What role did our agency have in the event?

Responded in support of the Apex Rescue Squad who provided initial triage, extrication, initial treatment, and transportation to the medical treatment area.

EMS assumed medical command and implemented the Wake County Mass Casualty Plan by appointing the positions of medical control, staging, triage, transportation, and assisted with extraction.

Notified all Wake County hospitals and Duke University Medical Center of situation. Requested medical helicopters (none available due to weather conditions). Requested ambulances for transport.

Coordinated the medical treatment and transportation of patients. EMS – 2 patients to Duke, Six Forks Rescue - 2 patients to Duke, Cary Rescue – 2 patients to Wake, Gamer Rescue - 1 patient to Wake. Knightdale responded but did not transport.

Provided medical support to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) until all operations served (one ambulance on site).

Provided the movement of remains from the National Guard vehicles to the specified truck and to the transport vehicles for movement to the State Medical Examiners Office. g. Coordinated Incident Stress Debriefing for emergency workers.

What things did we do well?

• Implemented the Mass Casualty component of the Wake County Incident Command Plan.
• Carried out all components of the plan (including paperwork)
• Provided medical treatment and transportation of injured to the hospital

What things can we improve on?

• The communication system was inadequate to handle rescue operations
• Ensure that the ambulances can move from primary to secondary staging for victim transport. Provide extraction equipment to site upon request. Request for bush ax, chain saws, tent etc. never reached the scene or staging area.

What lessons did we learn from the event?

The Wake County Incident Plan works as designed if all responding agencies are trained to fill  designated roles. That paid and volunteer agencies can respond and work together. That all responders can work as a functional unit to complete the over-all objectives.

A Special Thanks To… 

By Jerry Brown, EMTP

I would like to take this opportunity to publicly express my sincere thanks to all members of B shift that were involved with the American Eagle Airline crash on the evening of December 13, 1994. Alan Foster, who arrived shortly after the initial responding units from Apex, did an outstanding job of assuming Medical Command responsibilities. He implemented the ICS according to our Wake County JCS protocols. It was evident that Alan had a very good understanding of the plan and with its implementation. Ed Wallig, who was assigned with Apex Rescue at the time, served as primary Extrication Officer and was invaluable with the assistance that he rendered at the crash site.

David Wrench was on the first arriving EMS unit and was assigned the position of Triage Officer. David did an outstanding of utilizing available resources to obtain a somewhat dry area for the patients to be received from the extrication sector. By the time the first red tag patients arrived, David was ready with needed supplies. Troy Davis was the partner of David and was assigned the position of Extrication Officer from Alan on his arrival due to communication problems at the crash site. Troy did an outstanding job of coordinating efforts of personnel and equipment at the site adjacent to the crash. This incident pointed out to myself that there is the need at times for duplicate officer positions. Sonny Robbins was appointed the position of Transportation Officer on his arrival. He performed his duties with diligence under adverse conditions for documentation.

Mark Murdock was appointed Staging Officer on his arrival and did a great job of documenting all incoming ambulances, along with the names of personnel on each unit. Mark also discovered that the Visars go to tone alert after switching channels. Glenn, wellllllllllllllll, he did an excellent job of notification to the hospitals since I was having trouble seeing the road, much less the radio during my journey to the scene on the disaster vehicle. Upon his arrival, Glenn was directed to assist Troy at the crash site and he did just that which is commendable, right Troy?

WCEMS Responds to the Crash of Flight 3379 – By Alan Foster, EMTP 

The Crash of Flight 3379: A Wake EMS Response

Written By Alan Foster

December 13, 1994, is a date that will not soon be forgotten. For on that night, 12 members of "B" shift spent approximately 2 1/2 hours in the Morrisville area dealing with the crash of American Eagle Flight 3379. The following is their story, what they did, what they saw, and what they experienced.

Ed Wallig, Apex 471

At 18:43, Greg Winstead (Apex Chief) and I were dispatched to a twin engine aircraft down near Old Maynard Road at Koppers Road. Our first report prior to arriving was 2 P.I. 's and 1 code. Upon arrival we saw that the only way to the site was by foot. We gathered all the equipment that we could carry and headed into the woods. The first thing I remember seeing was luggage scattered about the ground. Then there was a strong smell of jet fuel and I noticed a few small fires being attended by firefighters with fi.re extinguishers. The next thing I remember was shouting out "Is anyone alive?" To my surprise, I heard a female voice cry out "Help Me." The further into the site I went the more I realized we had a whole lot more than we were prepared for. Greg tried to radio this information to command, but his portable would not transmit. He found a Morrisville firefighter and had him relay to command that there were multiple patients. I'll never forget some of the first victims I came upon that night. There was a man still buckled into his seat just looking around from side to side not saying a word. There was a man sitting on the ground leaning up against a tree with his arms folded. There was another man I found prone, his body on fire but yet still moving. Within moments, more backboards and personnel began arriving. We started identifying the living by doing rapid primary surveys. The only treatment we provided was to correct airway problems and to immobilize them on backboards. The patients were then carried out of the woods to a small clearing above the crash site. After the last survivor was out of the area, we performed a complete secondary search. Finding no other survivors, we left the scene to be secured by law enforcement.

Alan Foster, EMS 104: EMS Command and EMS Control Officer

 I never heard the initial dispatch of a plane crash. I heard Morrisville 100 talking about a staging area and a downed aircraft. I contacted RESCOM to find out the location of the incident and what rescue units had been dispatched. I was told a small plane was down off Koppers Road and that Apex Rescue was en route I checked en route and notified EMS 103. Prior to arrival I had EMS 6 and EMS 4 dispatched to the staging area. I arrived at the Morrisville Fire Department Command Post at 18:55. Apex Rescue had arrived 2 minutes earlier and had proceeded by foot into the site. The initial report I received from the fire commander was 2 survivors and 1 D.O.A. I still didn't know the type of aircraft and the number of souls on board. I couldn't contact Apex personnel at the site so I had to go on what firefighters  report received was 5 to 6 more survivors had been found. I requested more ambulances from RESCOM and had them check the availability of Air Care and Life Flight.

When EMS 6 arrived, I had them report to the command post. I knew we would be getting victims soon so I told David Wrench to be Triage Officer and to set up a triage area as quick as he could. I told Troy Davis to go the scene and assume Extrication officer duties. I needed Troy down at the site since I had no contact with the Apex crews. He took my Blazer, put in 4 wheel drive and drove down to the scene. When EMS 4 arrived, I told Mark Murdock to remain at staging and assume the EMS staging officer duties. I requested that Sonny Robbins report to triage with his gear and become the transportation officer. By now, a report had come into command from RDU that the aircraft was an American Eagle with 18 souls on board. I had more ambulances dispatched. All of this transpired in about 20 minutes. We had a complete incident command system in place and ambulances in staging and on the way.

I began receiving reports from Troy confirming that there were victims and that he had 3 red tags, 2 yellow tags, and 7 to 8 black tags. He made request for 4 wheel drive vehicles, backboards, and lighting. EMS I 03 soon arrived with the disaster vehicle. I gave him a quick briefing as to what had been done so far and he assumed EMS Command. I moved to the control officer position and at 19:45 we received the first two survivors to the triage area. Over the next 40-45 minutes, we extricated, triaged, treated, and transported 7 critically injured people.

Troy Davis, EMS 6: Extrication Officer

Upon my arrival, I reported to the command post and was assigned the duties of extrication officer. I with Alan's Blazer and a local resident that could show me the way proceeded to the site. Once there I found a few dozen firemen, deputies, and rescue personnel beginning the process of identifying the survivors. I checked with Ed Wallig to see what they had done so far. There was a small clearing just above the crash site. I elected to remain up there to stage the victims as they were brought out of the woods. This enabled me to rapidly triage the patients and send them out on pick-ups accordingly. Glenn Barham soon arrived, We agreed that he should go into the site to assist Apex and provide communications up to me. His radio call signs was to be "scene" to avoid having two "extrications" on the air. As patients were loaded on the pick-ups, I sent either a firefighter/EMT or an Apex Rescue member with them up to triage. After everyone was transported, a secondary search was done and our operation was terminated.

David Wrench, EMS 6: Triage Officer ·

Upon arrival at the command post, I was assigned the duties of triage officer. I began by working with other arriving personnel to set up a triage/treatment area. We tied some tarps to the side of the Apex crash truck and used pike poles from a fire truck to support the opposite sides of the tarps to form a shelter. The poles were tied off with ropes and staked with screwdrivers. Another tarp was spread on the ground underneath the shelter. We positioned the  flood lights from the crash truck and had a dry, well-lit  triage area. I next loaded up a pick-up truck with backboards, c-collars, army litters, etc. and sent it down to the crash site. In the triage area, IV 's were hung, 02 was set up, and two ambulances were being backed up to triage in preparation for the first arriving survivors. As the survivors arrived, my job was to ensure that they were properly triaged, treated quickly, and packaged for transport. We took care of 7 patients in a matter of 45 minutes. When we got the word there were no more survivors, our job was complete and we began cleaning up.

Mark Murdock, EMS 4: Staging Officer

Upon arrival at the staging area, l 04 requested that I stay here and assume staging officer duties. As ambulances began arriving, I had them pull to the side of the road and asked that the personnel remain with the vehicles until called. I then recorded what units I had and the names of the personnel on board. Upon l 04 's request, I sent the units up to the treatment area for transport.

Sonny Robbins, EMS 4: Transportation Officer

When Mark and I arrived at staging, Alan requested that I come to triage and assume the transportation officer duties. Those duties included recording each patient that came into triage. I was able to get the name of all but one. I recorded what ambulance transported each patient and What hospital they went to. I also coordinated with control to ensure that ambulances were ready as the patients were packaged for transport.

Glenn Barham, EMS 105: Scene

When I heard of the crash, I was in Wake Forest at a train/car accident. Jerry ( l 03) requested that I return to Raleigh for a plane crash near the airport. While en route back, I was told to go ahead and report to the scene. As I got closer to Morrisville, Alan called and asked that I make contact with the hospitals to advise them of the situation. I contacted Rex and Wake and had RESCOM contact Duke and N.C. Memorial. Upon my arrival at the command post, I was told that more help was needed at the site. I went down to the site with extra supplies on a 4 wheel drive pick-up. There I met up with Troy Davis. We decided that I should go into the scene and assist Apex and provide communications up to him as needed. After all the patients were out, I assisted with the secondary search and the recording of the location of all the deceased. At 21 :30 we terminated all EMS/Rescue activities at the scene.

Jerry Brown, EMS 103: EMS Command

At 18:44, Alan called me by radio to inform me he was responding to a reported aircraft down in the Morrisville area. At the time, I was on Peace Street in my P.O.V. (Blazer in the shop). I returned to Station l and responded with the disaster vehicle. Upon arrival, I received a briefing from Alan and ensured that the ICS was in place. Shortly thereafter, the first 2 patients arrived in the triage area. We soon got another report from RDU that there was now confirmed 20 souls on board. Over the next 40- 45 minutes my responsibilities were to facilitate the requests for equipment and handle other logistical needs for the rescue operation. After a thorough secondary search of the crash site, we concluded the rescue phrase and began packing up our equipment.

Jay Randall, Dane Wallace - EMS 8
Jonathan Gamer, Sam Mangum - EMS 1

These 4 paramedics took care of and transported the first two survivors brought to triage. Their patients of course were the most critically injured. Both patients had amputated limbs, head and chest injuries, and poor airways. They received rapid primary care and were packaged for transport to Duke. Unfortunately, both patients had sustained fatal injuries. The other 5 patients were transported by Six Forks, Cary and Gamer rescue squads. Everyone involved with the crash of Flight 3379 has spent a lot of time over the past few weeks talking about and reflecting on this incident.

Several things seem to stand out in our minds: First and foremost we think of the 7 people who 's lives we fought to save, and the 13 lives that we had to leave in the woods. We also think of the families of these victims. We know that Christmas time will never be the same for them again . Perhaps the one thing that stands out the most is how nearly 150 people converged on that wooded area in Morrisville and worked together as one. We have never seen such examples of teamwork. Speaking for myself, I am very pleased that the 11 EMS employees, whose stories you just read, are my co-workers. Every one of them played key roles in the success of this operation and without a doubt had a large part in the saving of 5 lives. I think a pat on the back is due to them and every other EMS/Rescue person there that night. Their efforts made all of the Wake County Emergency Medical System look very good. And therefore, from what I've heard, they 've made all of Wake County very proud to have such a system. Good job!

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