On that day, Lauren Elder made a life-altering decision to be the third passenger in a Cessna 182P, tail number N52855, embarking on a flight from Oakland International Airport in Oakland, California, with a destination set for Furnace Creek Airport in Death Valley's Furnace Creek. The pilot, a 36-year-old Jay Fuller who set course eastward, seemingly intending to follow the majestic Bubbs Creek up towards Kearsarge Pass.

But as fate would have it, they veered off course, flying southeast into the rugged expanse of Center Basin, surrounded by towering peaks over 13,000 feet tall. While Lauren Elder sat in the back seat, enjoying the breathtaking mountain vistas, she suddenly found herself faced with an imminent disaster when the plane encountered a forceful down draft, sending the plane into a wall of granite. Lauren’s life would be forever altered.

Join us as we delve into the remarkable story of Lauren Elder's harrowing adventure in the Sierra Nevada, exploring the trials, the resilience, and the triumph that define her incredible journey.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lauren_Elder

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-may-07-me-then7-story.htmlhttps://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/1978-press-photo-lauren-elder-3567543928

https://fearoflanding.com/accidents/the-amazing-survival-of-lauren-elder/