NOT YOUR AVERAGE DAY April 2000

Ed and I took off from Huehue enroute to San Luis to pick up two sick people. Flying along the south side of the mountains the ride was rough. The necessary 8,500 feet to cross the saddle was reached but every time we approached the saddle, we encountered a severe downdraft. The VSI was showing 1000/minute down. Turning away from the mountains we got the altitude back, but the downdraft won again. We climbed away from the mountains dodging clouds. Finally we turned toward the mountains well above the saddle in and out of clouds. High terrain all around. Continued climb to 11,500 feet to above all mountains near our route of flight and continued on instruments in clouds. After reaching the Ixcan north of the mountains, we were able to get almost clear of clouds and drop into San Luis in the mouth of the canyon. Smoke from slash and burn farming reduced visibility to two or three miles.

The landing strip has high weeds on it except for a path down the middle where the people had been using it for a road. After landing and engine shut down, the children gathered around the aircraft so thick that I could hardly get out of the cockpit. The two sick women with their husbands got in and strapped into their seats.

Shortly after takeoff, we turned into a canyon and over a saddle. The reduced visibility made this route very interesting. Dropping into a mountain valley we could see the town of Barillas. A rain shower was in the west end of the valley. Clouds, rain, smoke, wind, and high terrain all around. On final approach Ed added full power and said it was not safe to land. Into the rain, we couldn't see anything. Therefore, we turned back out of the rain, over the saddle and down the canyon back to the Ixcan.

The passengers elected to go to Playa Grande instead, as there are medical facilities there. Landing on the rough gravel strip was uneventful. As we exited the plane one of the women walked away and threw up everything she had in her stomach. I was glad she held out until she was out of the airplane.

Returning home the muddy village of Mayalan never looked so good.