UND Benefactor, Former Cirrus Board Member Ditches With Control Problems

James "Jim" Ray, 80, self-made millionaire and lifelong aviation aficionado, had a control problem of some sort in his CJ-1 on Tuesday. After a quick consultation with copilot Maxine and his girlfriend, he called downstairs and let them know that he was in trouble.

Ray has seen trouble before, as a B-17 pilot with 30 missions under his belt. This time, he was able to ditch the 525 and get everyone out, and make sure everyone was able to swim in Puget Sound until a boat picked them up.

Later that afternoon, Ray was seen dining at a local restaurant, minutes after having been released from the hospital.

Maxine, by the way, comes from a legendary string of Ray's copilots. She never argues, packs light, and is always alert and ready to go. She's also a good swimmer. She should be... she's a yellow Labrador Retriever.

**   Report created 7/23/2003   Record 9  **
IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 996JR        Make/Model: C525      Description: 525 CitationJet
  Date: 07/22/2003     Time: 1716
  Event Type: Accident   Highest Injury: None     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Destroyed
LOCATION
  City: OAK HARBOR   State: WA   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  ACFT DEPARTED VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CN, ON CLIMB AT FL330, PILOT STATED A PROBLEM AND REQUESTED CLOSEST FIELD,  UNABLE TO MAKE FIELD, LANDS IN THE WATER AT PENNS COVE, TWO PERSONS ON BOARD, NO INJURIES REPORTED, THEY WERE RESCUED BY A BOATER, ACFT IS SUBMERGED, OAK HARBOR, WA
INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   0
                 # Crew:  1     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Pass:   1     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
WEATHER: KBVS 221705 AUTO 00000KTS 10SM CLR 21/04 A3011
OTHER DATA
  Activity: Business      Phase: Climb      Operation: General Aviation
  Departed: VICTORIA, BC,CN             Dep Date: 07/22/2003   Dep. Time: 1701
  Destination: BOISE, ID                Flt Plan: IFR          Wx Briefing: U
  Last Radio Cont: 4814N/12231W
  Last Clearance: ON RADAR VECTOR 090 FOR TRAFFIC
  FAA FSDO: SEATTLE, WA  (NM01)                   Entry date: 07/23/2003