Cub Point Aircraft Accident 1940

Pilot Robert Maricich, the Missoula Manager of Northwest Airlines, was killed in a plane crash near Cub Point, Idaho, 25 air miles west of Darby, Montana. Maricich was flying a supply mission for the U.S. Forest Service when it is believed his Travel Air S-6000 was caught in a downdraft and forced down. The other occupant of the plane, Dell Clabaugh, tasked with dropping cargo, was injured in the crash. The Cub Mountain Lookout, Harry Nielsen, witnessed the cargo drop, heard the plane crash and immediately called the accident into the Hamilton Office of the Bitterroot National Forest by telephone. Nielsen then left his Lookout to hike to the scene and administer first aid.

A rescue plane responded to the scene and a rescue jump was performed by smokejumper pioneer Chester "Chet" Derry. Nielsen, Derry, and a mule train with packer Alvin Renshaw assisted to carry the injured air crewman Clabaugh by make-shift stretcher--made from saplings and canvas--for 20 miles to an emergency landing strip. He was then picked up by an aircraft and flown to Missoula, where he was treated at St. Patrick's Hospital. 

Fixed Wing Incident or Accident, Fatality, Medevac