Dr. Brinkley's is one of seven (or so . . . who knows what's in some of those unopened hangars?) Mooneys based at our home airport of Pogue, here at Sand Springs. Taking off either way (but especially to the South), there's really nowhere to aim but among trees unless you can get over at least 600 feet or so so you can make the highway or the river if heading south, or an open small but better-than-the-trees field off to the left going north. What happened to Dr. Brinkley's Mooney remains a mystery. He was apparently having engine trouble, did manage to call in a Mayday, and was immediately pursued by airplane (a local CFI in a 172, located him and circled overhead) and truck (the airport manager jumped in his truck, drove to where he could see the 172 circling overhead, then bushwhacked through the woods until he located Dr. Brinkley). The pair of CFI and manager remained on station until rescue folks arrived, at which time Dr. Brinkley was extracted from the Mooney.
These are the facts as related to me by the CFI and the airport manager following the events, so it's all second-hand information, but I presume it to be accurately reported, given the nature of the individuals involved. The airport manager runs the tightest little operation I've seen of it's kind, maintaining a beautiful airport with inexpensive fuel, great facilities, and a warm and welcoming atmosphere. We do love our Mooneys here, and we suspect that Dr. Brinkley will find another and be back in the air soon. We hope so.