Stunning Audio Released of 80-Year-Old Woman Landing Plane After Husband Dies in Cockpit
- Posted on April 5, 2012 at 9:07am by
Liz Klimas
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Helen Collins had to make an emergency landing with no flight experience after her husband, John, fell unconscious in the cockpit. (Photo: Crossroads at Big Creek/The John and Helen Collins Learning Center via ABC News)
MILWAUKEE (The Blaze/AP) — An 80-year-old woman who had never flown a plane had to take over the controls of the small aircraft after her husband became unconscious earlier this week. She spoke to aviation officials with remarkable calmness as they guided her to the ground, according to an audio recording released Wednesday, and made a relatively successful landing in an extremely stressful situation.
Helen Collins can be heard saying repeatedly that she’s low on fuel and needs to land quickly.
“You better get me in there pretty soon,” Collins says matter-of-factly. “I don‘t know how long I’m going to have gas.”
The 45-minute recording released by the Door County Sheriff’s Department reveals a woman who sounds perfectly in control, even though she didn‘t have a pilot’s license and knew her 81-year-old husband had just died. ABC News reports Collins’s son Richard saying when his mother recounted the events said she had touched his father’s hand and knew he had passed away. Even in this tough time, Richard said the family is “so proud of her.”
Helen Collins landed this plane. (Photo: AP/Door County Sheriff's Office)
In the recording, Collins occasionally conveys a sense of urgency, but always in a strong steady voice that doesn’t hint at any fear.
Watch the AP report:
Collins made national news Monday after her successful landing, in which she suffered a cracked rib and back injury.
Her husband, John Collins, had an apparent heart attack less than 10 minutes before he planned to land at Cherryland Airport in Sturgeon Bay, about 150 miles north of Milwaukee, said James Collins, the couple’s son.
On the flight recording Helen Collins doesn’t say much about her husband, focusing instead on her location and speed. She tells airport officials she’s doing fine but that her fuel is extremely low.
Listen to some of the audio:
As she neared the airport, pilot Robert Vuksanovic scrambled a small plane to join her in the air and guide her to the ground. At one point, Vuksanovic’s wife came on the radio to let her know Vuksanovic was on his way.
“It’s a hell of a place to be,” Collins said of her situation.
“I know, but it sounds like you’re doing great,” Vuksanovic’s wife replies.
Collins had plenty of experience in a small plane, spending hundreds of hours by her husband’s side in the air. Although she never got her license, she did get take-off and landing lessons some 30 years ago at her husband’s urging in case of just such an emergency, James Collins said.
Vuksanovic can be heard encouraging Collins, telling her she’s doing fine and guiding her to adjust her speed and pitch. At one point he confirms that her landing gear is down and says, “Very good. Good, good.”
“I don’t feel good,” Collins replies.
“No, you’re doing good,” he says.
Vuksanovic stayed by her side as they circled the airport and slowly descended. At one point he asks someone to make sure a road was closed.
“Don’t you have any faith in me?” Collins asks.
“I do. I don’t trust the drivers on the road,” he says.
He positioned his plane behind her Cessna twin-engine plane and they prepared for their final approach. His commands grew more urgent: “Turn left. Turn left. Left turn, Helen, turn left. Bring the nose up. That’s it, that’s it.”
She told him her right engine was out. He told her she was doing fine, then guided her lower.
“Nose down. Nose down. Turn right a little bit. Turn right. Nose down, nose down. Come on, get down. Get down,” he said. Then, rapid-fire, almost shouting: “Bring the power back. Power back. Power back. Reduce the power, over. Reduce the power. Nose down, over. Helen, do you read me?”
After a tense second of silence she replies calmly, “I read you.”
Her plane bounced hard off the runway, then landed and skidded down the runway about 1,000 feet.
“Great job, Helen, great job,” someone says over the radio, with muffled cheers in the background. “Outstanding, Helen.”
James Collins said he was grateful he didn’t lose both parents that day. He described his mother’s actions as unbelievable.
“I think she is a local hero for sure,” he said.
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pdw
Posted on April 6, 2012 at 2:43pmWhat is scary is people think being 80 we should die and get out of the worlds way. Make room for the young, if you are lucky you will live to be 80 and I think you will have a different prospective of life then.
Report Post »ebw1957
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 8:25pmwhile I admire the mirical, I’m a little upset it was needed. What were two people in their 80′s doing flying a plane anyway? THis plane could have crashed into innocent people.
Report Post »FreedomsQB
Posted on April 6, 2012 at 12:58pmAmerica was built on people taking chances and living life.. (someone could have gotten hurt – oh no!) build on fast cars and rocket ships (oh no someone could have gotten hurt) Go watch some TV and worry that your life might end in a fiery crash…. or better yet go out and live a little, take some chances!
Report Post »LovinUSA
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 7:24pmGod Bless you Helen, and so sorry for the loss of your dear husband.
Report Post »Glock31
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 7:13pmHelen, you are a remarkable woman
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 5:23pmI’m just wishing her the best., and congratulating her on winning life’s lottery.
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 2:50pmGod rest her husband soul. How awful to know your husband has passed before your vary eyes and you have to maintain your composer in trying to land a plane. Thankfully many years ago he taught her to fly, but it had been 30 years since that time and she had never landed a plane. She was truly blessed. God bless her.
Report Post »PlaneDoc
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 1:41pmTedddddrunk, look in mirror, repeat after me ” you are an a$$ , You should RESPECT your elders” maybe if it comes from you, you will listen, because you obviously didn’t listen growing up. That lady is welcome in my neck of the woods in anything i can fly, what grace and composure in a tough situation. The best part is she can probably kick you butt, then discuss it with you, over tea. God bless!!!! Helen, you are part of the “strongest generation” that we middle-agers strive to be like……Happy Skies to your late husband ! Old pilots never die …. they just go to a higher plane
Report Post »texasderek
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 1:13pmShe had an Angel on her shoulder… no doubt.
Report Post »old white guy
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 2:01pmshe and her angle did a hell of a job. i think most people would have put the nose of the plane in the dirt.
Report Post »PurrrpleMtnMajesty
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 12:47pmWow! At her age, many people can’t even operate a vehicle who have driven their entire lives while this woman can land a plane having never flown one.
Report Post »db321
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 1:09pmHelen was a cool as ICE! – I’m glad it was not me – I would have screaming like a baby.
Report Post »Shasta
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 12:40pmHey Ted, you sound very bitter. Obviously from having some woman looking at you as only an insurance check too. That happened to me as well. But unlike you, I moved on, when I realized that most women, like most people, are not evil.
Report Post »shogun459
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 12:09pmGreat job landing.
Under Obama Care her age group would only receive “comfort care” for any neurological injuries.
Report Post »She deserves better.
thegreatcarnac
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 11:59amHe really wasn’t dead until he realized what she did to his plane…then he died immediately.
Report Post »SpeckledPup
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 11:47amand THAT, folks, is what America’s ”GREATEST GENERATION” was made of.
Report Post »Dismayed Veteran
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 10:47amBravo. Bravery comes in many shapes and forms.
Report Post »celestialfire
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 10:33amHelen knows the key word, “faith”. God bless her what an outstanding woman!
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 10:09amCan’t lose both parents? They’re almost 80! Poor 55-60 year old kids can’t go on? Listen to her on the radio. Don’t confuse strength with being cold. But that’s the way it is in most cases. The wife is just waiting for the old man to kick off. Then it’s new condo time & traveling thanks to those life policies.
Report Post »truthb4fiction
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 9:57amGod love her!
Report Post »Sarah Nicole
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 9:54amYou are an idiot. You expect her to be curled up in a ball crying because her husband just died and not try and save herself? Poor little defenseless woman? She had to be strong and brave for her family’s sake. Can’t lose both parents that day. this is an example of what a REAL woman is like. Very hard to find these days.
Report Post »TWO BITS
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 9:52amFantastic job Mrs. Collins! She may have been lacking in flying experience, but her calm courage has no doubt served her well for a lifetime.
Report Post »My condolences to her and the family on the loss of Mr.Collins. If he loved flying, he died in a nice place and closer to Heaven.
cranberry
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 9:42amWhat is an 80 year old man flying a plane for anyway… very scary to think this is happening on our roads and in our skies. Glad however everything worked out for the woman.
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 10:11amBecause this is America. Ain’t FREEDOM GREAT.
Report Post »TerryDo
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 10:34amJudging someone by their age, don’t you know that more accidents are caused by drivers under 25 years of age?
Bravo ! Helen Collins and thank you Mr. and Mrs. Robert Vuksanovic for saving a life.
Mrs. Collins your husband would be so proud of you, although this will be a bittersweet story for you and your family to recall.
Report Post »old white guy
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 2:04pm13thimam. definately.
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 9:32am.
Report Post »Shame they don’t make them like that anymore……….
G-WHIZ
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 12:25pmThere were several neghbors in my area, in n/w-Chicago, when I was growing up int 50/60′s just like her! I miss them…they are no-longer here(they did the “big Move” to heaven). They didn’t complain about my young-un-experienced questions…I can hear their answers, still.
Report Post »Jenny Lind
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 9:28amWe women are a whole lot tougher than the guys think we are-and the older we are the tougher we get! I am so proud of my gender when we do what we have to and show our mettle. She‘s a shining example of a lifetime’s getting it done. God bless her and her family, sorry for the loss of her husband and their dad.
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 9:24amHmn.. good for her family, she lived to give hugs.
Report Post »