Finding Carla

The investigative flight history textbook Finding Carla The Story that Forever Changed Aviation Search and Rescue (formally titled Finding Carla) is a deeply moving aviation book authored by commercial pilot and crash investigator Ross Nixon. Published by Aviation Supplies & Academics, Inc. (ASA), this volume examines one of the most consequential accidents in North American general aviation history. The narrative reconstructs the March 1967 crash of a Cessna 195 carrying pilot Alvin Oien, Sr., his wife Phyllis, and his 15-year-old stepdaughter Carla Corbus in California's Trinity Mountains. It provides an indispensable ground and flight study reference for every commercial pilot, flight student, certified flight instructor (CFI), first officer, search-and-rescue team member, and prospective captain candidate.

Although the family survived the forced landing and endured severe winter conditions for nearly two months, the absence of onboard radio beacons and a course deviation prevented rescue teams from spotting the wreckage. The accidental discovery of the aircraft months later—along with Carla's harrowing diary detailing their ordeal—shocked the nation and broke political resistance, directly prompting US congressional legislation that mandated Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs) on all civil aircraft. Understanding how this tragedy reshaped survival protocols helps flight crews prioritize safety during cross-country air navigation across commercial air transport operations. To explore additional aviation history books, ASA survival study guides, and pilot safety manuals, browse our specialized catalog in the aviation history books and safety study guides for the aviation pilot section.

Published in August 2016, this softcover paperback edition features 232 pages written in clear technical English, measuring approximately 15.2 x 1.5 x 22.9 cm (6 x 0.6 x 9 inches). Registered under manufacturer catalog SKU ASA-FIND and ISBN-13 978-1619543430, the book includes an exclusive family photo album, actual search-and-rescue mission photographs, recovered handwritten notes, and Congressional Record appendices detailing early ELT safety regulations. It serves as an essential academic investment for flight academies, ground school instructors, first officers, aeronautical engineers, and active professionals across the global aviation industry and modern aeronautics.

Features of Finding Carla The Story

• 📖 Full Title: Finding Carla: The Story that Forever Changed Aviation Search and Rescue
• ✍️ Author: Ross Nixon (Commercial pilot and aviation accident investigator)
• 🏛️ Publisher: Aviation Supplies & Academics, Inc. (ASA)
• 📅 Release Date: August 2016
• 📄 Page Count: 232 illustrated pages featuring historical archival documents
• 📐 Dimensions & Format: Approx. 15.2 x 1.5 x 22.9 cm | Softcover paperback format
• 🔢 Identifiers: ISBN-13: 978-1619543430 | ISBN-10: 1619543435 | SKU: ASA-FIND
• 📸 Historical Documents: Family photo album, actual search photos, diary excerpts, and US Congressional ELT law proceedings
• 🌍 Language: Technical Aviation English

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What aviation regulatory change was sparked by Finding Carla The Story?

It directly led to federal legislation mandating Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs) on all civil aircraft for every pilot.

What archival materials are included inside this ASA aviation book?

It contains family photos, actual search logs, Carla's recovered diary pages, and official US Congressional hearings in aviation.