Stories
Teen Survives 10,000-Foot Fall from Disintegrating Plane into Amazon Rainforest
- •In 1971, 17-year-old Juliane Koepcke was the sole survivor of LANSA Flight 508 after it disintegrated in a thunderstorm over the Peruvian rainforest.
- •Koepcke fell approximately 10,000 feet while still strapped to a row of seats, surviving the impact into the rainforest canopy.
- •Drawing on her upbringing at the Panguana Biological Research Station, Koepcke used her knowledge of the rainforest to follow a stream downstream, seeking civilization.
- •After 10 days, injured and infested with fly larvae, Koepcke found a shelter, used diesel fuel to remove the larvae, and waited for rescue.
- •Rescued after 11 days, Koepcke later returned to the rainforest as a scientist, leading the Panguana research station and contributing to its designation as a private conservation area.
Key Questions Answered
In 1971, 17-year-old Juliane Koepcke was the sole survivor of LANSA Flight 508 after it was struck by lightning and disintegrated mid-air. Still strapped to a row of seats, she fell nearly 10,000 feet into the Peruvian rainforest canopy. Despite suffering injuries like a broken collarbone, she survived the impact.
Koepcke used childhood experience from her biologist parents' research station and advice from her father to follow a stream downstream to find people. Over 11 days, she sustained herself with sweets found in wreckage and treated an arm wound infested with fly larvae by pouring diesel fuel on it.
After being rescued by woodcutters following 11 days in the forest, Koepcke returned to Germany to complete her studies. She earned her diploma in 1977 and later conducted doctoral research on bat ecology at Panguana. In 2000, she took over leadership of the Panguana Biological Research Station established by her parents.
