AFW - Sad News

Angel Flight Loses Member, Wing Leader, and Friend
See: http://www.angelflight.org and http://www.angelflight.org/colorado


Dear AFW Members,

Tuesday afternoon we received the very sad news that Jim Long, our Angel
Flight West Montana Wing Leader, as well as an AFW Board Member, died in a
plane crash on Monday afternoon. We received word Tuesday morning that his
plane had been missing since 3:15 on Monday afternoon, just about 15 minutes
prior to his scheduled arrival at Shafer Meadows, a wilderness area in
Northern Montana.

This was not an Angel Flight related flight. Jim was flying a flight for the
National Forest Service, transporting several personnel to Shafer Meadows
for an annual survey of the vegetation in the area. We have very few details
of the crash but there are countless articles on the internet. The wreckage
was finally located Tuesday afternoon. Because of the wilderness area in
which the wreckage was found, they had to drop several people in by
helicopter, who then announced that there were no survivors. Remarkably,
since that time, two of the forest service workers walked out onto a highway
and are both being treated for their injuries.

This is a tremendous loss for Laura, Jim's wife, and a great loss for the
Montana Wing and Angel Flight West as well. Jim has left an indelible
imprint on our entire organization and his loss will be felt enormously.
Let's keep Laura and others in the Long family in our thoughts and prayers.

The Memorial service for Jim Long will be held this coming Sunday, September
26th at 2 PM. Both Jim Weaver and I will be attending the service. The
service will be at Kalispell Airport (FCA) in a private hangar with a
reception following the service.

Please arrive at the airport terminal and someone there will give you
directions to the hangar. The reception will be held in the terminal.

If you are able to attend, please wear your Angel Flight clothing and your
ID badge.

Laura would like donations to be made to Angel Flight West. There is a Memor
ial site posted on the AFW Home Page with a link to make donations and to
newspaper articles.

If you have any questions, please call the

AFW office (310) 390-2958.

Sincerely,

Jim Weaver and Cheri Cimmarrusti