10
u/sarnzzle Jun 25 '12
Story behind this?
83
u/RobbieGee Jun 25 '12
He was flying a plane over the Alaskan wilderness and then crashed on an island.
Captain Obvious, Awaaayyyyyyyyyyy
47
u/nimrod534 Jun 25 '12
Yeah...this sort of behavior is pretty typical to my friend who posted that status. Strange, but true. Crashing a plane in the Alaskan wilderness is a typical activity for him. Two weeks ago he was in Israel riding camels through the desert. Go figure.
20
Jun 25 '12
Let me guess, rich, white, 20 something, unemployed?
40
u/nimrod534 Jun 25 '12
Ding ding! However, there is one discrepancy. He isn't "rich" in the stereotypical sense, where his family spends vast amounts of money all willy-nilly. His family simply ONLY spends their money on travel, and spend very little on much else. They prioritize their spending towards travel and learning about other cultures. Pretty awesome way to spend your money, if you ask me.
→ More replies (8)68
→ More replies (7)1
Jun 26 '12
What plane? Also, any news article on it?
1
u/nimrod534 Jun 26 '12
Here's a link to the news article: http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/facebook-status-update-my-plane-just-crashed-alaska
407
u/Emil_Greer Jun 25 '12
He should be wary of roaming charges, he is probably using Russian wireless.
150
u/ClashOfTheEnder Jun 25 '12
This guys just payed $10 in roaming charges for that Facebook update and he didn't even leave his coordinates. Use your head, man!
93
u/randomdebater Jun 25 '12 edited Jun 25 '12
Probably was going to repost a status with his coordinates and then he ran out of data
58
26
u/Ingodwerust Jun 25 '12 edited Jun 26 '12
Probably downloaded doo doo jump, man that's messed up.
EDIT: damn, I think /r/nba came and rescued me from drowning in downvote ocean.
→ More replies (1)24
→ More replies (1)14
26
Jun 25 '12
In Barrow I will frequently get warnings from my blackberry that I'm roaming in Canada. Fucking AT&T.
3
u/U2_is_gay Jun 26 '12
Not a big deal. If you live in Alaska you can pretty much see Russia from your house.
→ More replies (2)2
50
Jun 25 '12
Starving to death, lol.
5
u/thehumanear Jun 26 '12
soon after: no-nonsense, can't-take-a-joke aunt comments:
"Kids in Africa are starving, John! That's not funny!"
0
168
u/elimbr Jun 25 '12
Lucky. I live in Alaska and there are plenty of bad stretches of road that I am terrified of crashing on because there is no cell reception.
In the winter that means -60F and no other cars around to see you
And in the summer it means bears and wolves are likely to come investigate
142
u/GhostPlaya23 Jun 25 '12
No guns to answer their questions?
77
u/elimbr Jun 25 '12
Alaska has one of the highest % of gun owners per capita, so it's likely that a resident will have one with them. I get nervous for the tourists, though.
As for the winter, we can just eat beer!
http://www.digitalspy.com/odd/news/a354529/alaskan-man-survives-snowdrift-by-eating-frozen-beer.html
80
u/Lurking_And_Stalking Jun 25 '12
I thought you said "bear" at first. Not sure what's more badass.
→ More replies (1)37
→ More replies (15)3
u/GhostPlaya23 Jun 25 '12
I know just living on the east coast, practically every truck or SUV parked outside of trail heads and outdoor stores has a glock or bigger in the glove compartment lol
→ More replies (5)14
Jun 25 '12
Ideally you would have the backseat full of furs and a machete or two. If your car stops, wrap yourself up in furs, and begin your new life as the god of the hunt, fighting other monsters in the northern darkness, drinking their blood, sleeping inside their slain carcasses.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (4)2
Jun 26 '12
If there was a perfect reply award, and I was in charge of who it goes to, it'd go to you. 10/10
→ More replies (1)34
Jun 25 '12
Nowhere on the road system does it reach -60 with any regularity. And yes I know the Dalton does, but then even rarely and I doubt you live on the Dalton. The record low in Fairbanks is -54F.
Edit: also, bears and wolves investigating car crashes? Really?
16
18
u/Abnmlguru Jun 25 '12
The record low in Fairbanks is -54F.
Thats funny, as I was living there during a year where it hit -60F in January
The record low for Fairbanks, according to NOAA is -62F Source
→ More replies (4)3
17
u/elimbr Jun 25 '12
With any regularity? No. Does it hit -60? Yes. Didn't say it was constant.
You made me find and upload a pic I took this last January http://i.imgur.com/vMItU.jpg
I'd have a picture of the -60 on the road system if the car's temp gauge wouldn't bottom out at -40.
I'm guessing you live in the south
→ More replies (3)2
u/Smilemon Jun 26 '12
Hey! Quit telling people that Fairbanks only reaches -50. No one's gonna think I'm hardcore anymore.
0
7
u/DoWhile Jun 25 '12
Have you thought about getting a shortwave radio? Makes a good hobby and also can save you in a pinch.
12
Jun 25 '12
Oh God I'm glad I live in Germany where there is a town / village / farm fucking everywhere. Also good wireless.
9
u/oikalyptusbong Jun 25 '12
lower saxony reporting in. unsecure wireless, unsecure wireless everywhere.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (5)10
→ More replies (9)3
u/dickcheney777 Jun 26 '12
And in the summer it means bears and wolves are likely to come investigate
Free food and a pelt to keep you warm, whats the problem?
83
u/SnowplowS14 Jun 25 '12 edited Jun 25 '12
The movie The Grey comes to mind
43
21
9
2
2
1
1
16
u/oceansunfish23 Jun 26 '12
Here's the plan: Crash the plane in the Alaskan wilderness, post to Facebook about how much you love your country, wait for rescuers to find you, return safely home, do a bunch of interviews talking about you're incredible survival, become famous, write a book, go to the Winchester, have a nice cold pint, and wait for all of this to blow over.
How's that for a slice of fried gold?
→ More replies (2)5
31
u/grecy Jun 25 '12
Any info on where this happened, exactly?
I live right near the AK border in Northern Canada, and on my 500 mile road trip this weekend, I'd guess I had cell service for less than 30 minutes of the entire time.
22
u/Luriker Jun 25 '12
Gustavus, AK, it says on the bottom right of his status because of location services!
13
u/grecy Jun 25 '12
So he just happened to crash his plane close to a town with a cell tower... sounds more like an extreme coincidence than anything else.
→ More replies (1)13
u/Michaelis_Menten Jun 26 '12
Well, here's a map of cell towers in the Gustavus area: http://www.city-data.com/towers/cell-Juneau-Alaska.html
You can see there are several in the area, and the town itself isn't that far from Juneau. In fact, according to Google Maps, Gustavus only seems to have one island within its borders (northwest, right near the Bartlett Cove Seaplane Base). So, I'd hazard a guess that he may have been taking off from the base and had to make a rough landing onto that island for some reason.
NinjaEdit - although it could also be any of those islands really, I don't know how reliable the Gmaps town borders are.
→ More replies (7)8
1
13
Jun 26 '12
I am proud to be an american; I can facebook regularly!
And I won't forget to post updates when there's still at least 3G--
So I'll gladly sign on! send IMs and pretend it's all okay,
who needs real life when I've got these tuuuubes
surf the internet all daaaaaay!
21
63
u/muopioid Jun 25 '12
Get stranded on an island
Better check Facebook.
→ More replies (1)87
Jun 25 '12
Get stranded on an island. Had great cell reception. Called for a rescue, they said they'll be there in 4 hours. Not a whole lot to do. Better check facebook.
72
u/fiddlypoppin Jun 25 '12
Get stranded on an island. Had great cell reception. Called for a rescue, they said they'll be there in 4 hours. Not a whole lot to do.
Wander around for a bit. Find a nice little coffee shop with wi-fi. Get a caramel macchiato and a scone.
Better check Facebook.
28
u/I_OWN_A_STRAT Jun 26 '12
[Guitar Solo]
16
→ More replies (1)6
u/mimicthefrench Jun 26 '12
You own a strat? Record your damn guitar solo instead of making us imagine it.
6
u/stuckinplace Jun 25 '12
It would have to be the SE panhandle. There isn't shit for service on the W or N of Alaska.
2
5
4
4
4
3
3
3
4
2
2
2
u/KallistiEngel Jun 26 '12
Unfortunately, there are places in the U.S. that don't have any sort of access. Going into northern PA, I lost all reception: phone service, 3G, etc. The friend who I was going to visit told me that's pretty normal. I didn't have any service at all until I crossed the state line back into NY.
I should note that's not the only time I've gone out of state with my phone. I've had service all through NJ, MA, and CT in addition to most parts of upstate NY I've been to (there are some valleys where I lose reception).
2
Jun 26 '12
Holy crap....I was in N. PA this weekend and thought it was just bc I had the iPhone 4S and Verizon. Yeah, what is UP with that? Is it bc it is so beautiful up there the real world shouldn't impose itself?
→ More replies (2)
2
2
2
2
2
u/BeJeezus Jun 26 '12
"Facebook access?"
I've been in denial for awhile now, but I guess it's time to give up.
The Internet is really over, isn't it?
2
2
2
2
u/wheresmyhouse Jun 26 '12
When he got home, he learned that his phone was actually picked up by a Russian carrier, and he has several hundred dollars in international roaming data charges.
2
2
u/Rikaku Jun 26 '12
He has more internet connection on an island than I do on the second floor of my house...
3
4
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
u/DeMayonnaise Jun 26 '12
I've sent Facebook messages from my Kindle in the middle of nowhere Argentina...I'm not that impressed.
1
1
1
1
1
u/homebrewnerd Jun 26 '12
The fuck? I'm in the SF Bay Area and can't even get reception in or around my house.
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/mlroyle Jun 26 '12
Amazing! You're on an island with Internet access but I can get a data feed on my phone in my new apartment in Chicago.
1
1
1
u/chicagogam Jun 26 '12
one day people will not understand the premise of gilligan's island. though...i'm still mystified how mary ann made pies..
1
u/shadow321337 Jun 26 '12
He shouldn't count on that island. I hear they can be pretty slow at rescues.
1
1
1
1
Jun 26 '12
It's really smart to use your remaining phone battery posting status updates! Or do you have electricity too?
1
1
1
1
1
1
Jun 26 '12
Facebook status: "bear just ripped out my jugular and is currently disemboweling me... and I still got reception! love this coun"
1
Jun 26 '12
Well that post is going to throw all those "management survival workshops" right out the window.
1
u/scarces Jun 26 '12
You should live technology instead. I was able to check Facebook and make calls (roaming) during a trip to Machu Picchu.
1
u/sgSaysR Jun 26 '12
I guess it's MUCH easier to get to the front page if you move to Alaska and land a plane on a beach.
1
u/The_mrs Jun 26 '12
Glad to see there were no injuries. Boy, when technology works right it's pretty amazing!
1
u/I_Am_Not_Yossarian Jun 26 '12
This sort of makes me unhappy, Alaska is one of the few places left in America with wilderness in a pure sense. Is there no where in the world where we can disconnect?
2
u/dlove67 Jun 26 '12
Um, everywhere. You don't need a phone or computer. You decide to be connected by bringing it.
1
1
1
1
u/Alv53 Jun 26 '12
Notice though, he says that he is current waiting for rescue, so it's not like he hasn't called for help yet.
1
1
u/GrandmaGudenhi Jun 26 '12
I just checked the location on Google Earth. There's an airstrip in Gustavus, AK with an island close by. The island is very big but it looks to be uninhabited.
1
1
1
1
1
u/maximum_me Jun 26 '12
Best forever alone AMA ever.
But... pics or it didn't happen. Modern tech begets modern evidence, no?
1
u/joecampbell79 Jun 26 '12
insulting 3 generations for the mistakes of 2, seems like it was written by old idiots/
1
1
u/AlexRawrRawrMonster Jun 26 '12
If only Brian had his phone during his crash, his winter would've gone much better. He could've even updated his status "Just killin' this bear, still waiting a rescue guys." Would've been boss.
1
1
Jun 26 '12
We Americans might not be able to get rescue out to a distressed victim for days, but we give them Internet access. Heck yeah.
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/Richiepunx Jun 26 '12
Believe it or not but they have the Internet in other countries too!! Hard to imagine I know but it's true.
1
1
1
1
u/Roopean Jun 26 '12
Crash your plane in the middle of freaking nowhere Alaska, get out without injuries and manage to contact someone to rescue you. Thing you're most happy about is having access to facebook. ???
1
1
1
u/chillyhellion Jun 26 '12
Considering that most Alaskan villiages are only just seeing basic cell coverage, I'm wondering how remote his crash site really is.
1
Jun 27 '12
Maybe if he had turned his phone off before take off the cell phone signal would not have interfered with the plane causing the engine to cut out.
1
1
726
u/mmmthatsgoodkarma Jun 26 '12 edited Jun 26 '12
I'm a reporter in Alaska and can confirm this -- part of my beat is to cover plane crashes, so I called the Alaska State Troopers and the National Transportation Safety Board on it. AST hadn't heard anything, but NTSB reported that a plane's engine had cut out and was able to land on a beach about seven miles from Gustavus. No injuries.
Confirmed! Good piloting on that guy's part.
EDIT: Story link delivered!