F&G Helicopter Down in North Idaho

A helicopter carrying two Idaho Fish and Game biologists crashed just past noon Friday, January 8, Mountain Time, in the Kelly Creek area on the North Fork of the Clearwater River. None of the three people on board suffered life-threatening injuries. They were flown to a hospital in Missoula, Montana. "We know this kind of work is dangerous," Fish and Game Director Cal Groen said Monday. "We are thankful that no one was killed in the accident. Our thoughts are with George and Craig and Rick Swisher and their families." Helicopter pilot Rick Swisher and Fish and Game research biologists George Pauley and Craig White are recovering in Missoula. The three were treated for injuries, and all are stable, in good spirits and waiting further evaluation. The three men were in a Hughes 500 helicopter operated by Quicksilver Air. White and Pauley were trapping and radio-collaring elk, moose and wolves in the Clearwater Region. The ground crews working with the biologists made their way out of the North Fork on snowmobiles over the weekend. Fish and Game biologists fly about 1,000 hours annually in aerial surveys, wildlife counts and capturing wildlife for research. Fish and Game has had no aircraft accidents involving injuries since a wildlife biologist was killed in December 2000 when the helicopter he was in went down while on a wildlife count in northern Idaho. Fish and Game takes safety seriously; all personnel are required to take safety training before flying and adhere to strict safety procedures. (Editors: JPEG available on request)