Flier Walks Away From Plane Crash; 2 Others Rescued

One of three Air Force officers who survived a private plane crash in the San Bernardino Mountains hiked about 12 hours through rugged terrain in darkness before he encountered people who alerted authorities that two injured airmen remained at the scene, officials said Monday.

Lt. Terrence Cogan, 26, suffered only minor injuries and walked about eight miles before he ran into some workers about 6 a.m. Monday, said James Bryant, spokesman for the San Bernardino County sheriff’s office.

Sheriff’s rescuers arrived at the crash site about an hour later via helicopter, secured the plane--which was perched precariously on a hillside--and airlifted the two injured fliers to hospitals, Bryant said.

The most seriously injured, Lt. Kenneth Bowling, 24, remained in serious condition late Monday at Loma University Medical Center, where he was being treated for a broken left leg, a broken right hand and numerous facial cuts, a hospital spokeswoman said. Lt. Gustavus Smith, 25, was listed in stable condition at March Air Force Base hospital.

The three, all stationed at Norton Air Force Base, were on a recreational flight in a rented Cessna 172 when the aircraft lost power and went down about 6 p.m. Sunday on a mountain about halfway between San Bernardino and Big Bear Lake, the sheriff’s spokesman said. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the cause of the crash.