Hard landing audio recording released

DOOR COUNTY - Door County sheriff’s officials have released an audio recording from the emergency plane landing on Monday.

Helen Collins, 80, was thrown into the pilot’s seat after her husband suffered a medical condition that left him unconscious.

A husband and wife team of pilots helped guide Helen back safely to the ground.

• Click here to hear the audio recording between the pilot Robert Vuksanovic and Helen Collins

“Hi Helen, this is Cathy,” said Cathy Vukanovic, one of the pilots during the radio conversation.

“Hi Kathy, hell of a place to be,” said Collins on the recording.

Despite her situation and being 2,000 feet in the air, Collins appeared to sound calm.

She was talking with air traffic controllers at the Door County Cherryland Airport and the two pilots on radio for about 45 minutes.

For much of the conversation, the controllers and pilots are talking Collins through the gears of the plane, her speed and elevation.

On the recording, you can also hear when the airport sends a second plane into the air to coach Collins through her landing.

“Ok, this is going to be a little bit of a flight lesson, but you'll enjoy it,” said Robert Vuksanovic, the pilot who took another plane in the air to coach Collins.

Throughout the radio conversation Collins expresses concern about her fuel amount.

“You better get me in pretty soon, I don't know how long I'm going to have gas,” said Collins.

Collins also appeared to be joking with Vuksanovic during the ordeal.

“Ok Kev, go ahead and have them close the road,” said Vuksanovic on the recording.

“What do you mean by close the road?” said Collins in response.

“I was talking to the people on the ground, Helen,” responded Vuksanovic.

“Don't you have faith in me?” said Collins.

After a bumpy landing, Helen Collins' husband John Collins, 81, was pronounced dead from injuries not related to the landing.

Helen Collins was taken to the hospital for minor injuries. Family members were planning to pick her up Wednesday.