4 Rescued by Copter From Angeles Forest

Four people overdue from a trip to fly model airplanes in the rugged Angeles National Forest were rescued by helicopter early Sunday in good condition, authorities said.

The four Canyon Country residents had not returned from a Saturday day trip to fly the planes near Pyramid Lake, sheriff’s deputy Larry Mead said.

A 20-member team mounted a search for the group Saturday night, and made voice contact with them about 1:30 a.m. Sunday. They were found about 3:30 a.m., 1 1/2 miles from their car, which was parked in a mountainous area off the Golden State Freeway.

The four, members of the Santa Clarita Soaring Assn., told rescuers that their model plane had plunged down a canyon and it grew dark as they attempted to hike down to retrieve it.

“We just ran out of daylight. There was no problem with the hike at any time,” said Jack Patzolo, 50.