Investigators Flown To Helicopter Wreckage -- Search For 73-Year- Old Hiker Is Suspended

Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board and the Department of the Interior were flown yesterday to the Olympic Peninsula site where a search helicopter crashed, killing three people and injuring five.

The search for missing hiker John Devine of Sequim was suspended Saturday, although Olympic National Park personnel will continue to watch for any sign of the 73-year-old as they make routine patrols of the Mount Baldy area and remove emergency communications equipment from the scene, said Barb Maynes, park spokeswoman.

"The case isn't closed until Mr. Devine is found, of course," Maynes said, "but it was the consensus of the search team that with bad weather setting in and six days without even a clue as to where he might be, the chances for survival are really quite slim."

Devine failed to return to camp Sept. 6 after hiking to the summit of Mount Baldy in the Buckhorn Wilderness Area just outside the park. He is an experienced hiker and carried a little food and water but was not prepared to spend the night in the outdoors.

Devine's family and friends had not decided yesterday whether they would continue the search without park-service help, said Rev. Michael Kasting, Devine's pastor at the Faith Lutheran Church in Sequim, where Devine and his wife were members. Kasting has been visiting Devine's wife frequently since his disappearance.

The wreckage of the Bell 205-A1 helicopter that crashed Friday will not be removed until investigators finish their on-site examination. Then it will be taken to a warehouse for further examination, according to the park service.

Family and friends held a private memorial service yesterday morning at the Olympic Lodge in Port Angeles for the dead searchers: Kevin Johnston, 35, the pilot, of Springfield, Ore.; Rita McMahon, 52, of Aberdeen, a search volunteer who trained dogs to help with rescue missions; and Taryn Hoover, 31, of Waldron, San Juan County, a seasonal park employee who helped with searches and worked in a spotted-owl survey in the park.

Three of the injured remained hospitalized last night. Robert Feldmann, 27, of Mukilteo, and Cynthia Stern, 24, of Port Angeles, were reported in satisfactory condition at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

Another, Heidi Pedersen, 32, of Port Angeles, was in stable condition at Olympic Memorial Hospital in Port Angeles.

"Physically, she's much, much better," said Romelle Wasden, a nursing supervisor at Olympic Memorial, said of Pedersen. "But it's such a very difficult circumstance. She's just going to need time to cope."

Sally Macdonald's phone message number is 206-464-2248. Her e-mail address is: smac-new@seatimes.com

Murray Whyte's phone message number is 206-515-5686. His e-mail address is: mwhy-new@seatimes.com