Tyler Pickering recovering after surgery

SALT LAKE CITY - Three-year old Tyler Pickering was the only survivor in the plane flown by his grandfather this weekend when it collided with another plane in mid-air over the McCall airport.

He's now being treated at a Salt Lake City hospital for severe burns over much of his body.

After hearing the harrowing story, many people say, "if this had happened to me, I just couldn't go on," but the Pickerings feel they must go on. They have to live for their one child who survived this heartbreaking tragedy.

"He didn't answer his phone. I just had a gut feeling.  I knew something had happened at that time," said Jennifer Pickering.

Something had happened - something unimaginable.  Jennifer Pickering's father, Bill Keating had collided with another plane as both pilots apparently tried to land at the same time on the same runway at the McCall Airport.

Also on board that plane were three young boys, the sons of Jennifer and Chris Pickering.  52-year old Bill Keating, six-year old William and one-year old Dillon died.  But three year old Tyler was spared, rescued by Justin Mooney, the pilot in the other plane involved in the collision.  Tyler was the only one Mooney could save.

"I ran back to see if I could get anybody else.  I got right up to the plane and at that point it exploded and was fully engulfed and I had to get out," Mooney said.

"He didn't have to save my son,” Chris Pickering said of Mooney. “I really want to thank him for what he did.  There isn't words. I would like to be able to tell him thank you but I don't even know who he is.”

Three-year old Tyler remembers the crash and his rescue in vivid detail, adding deep emotional wound to the serious physical injuries he sustained.

"He can tell you what happened,” Chris Pickering said. “And he'll go papa and then plane and he goes on and on and on ...detail by detail of what happened.”

The Pickerings are trying to channel their tremendous sorrow into support, focusing their energy on Tyler.  The third degree burns on his arms, torso and legs are of greatest concern.  His parents say he only sleeps in 15 minute intervals before waking in fear and pain.

"I just try to comfort him and reassure him that he's safe, that mom's here and dad's here,” Jennifer said.

In so many ways the Pickering's life has simply been put on hold. 

They say they will stay here until Tyler is released from the hospital and they will not make funeral arrangements for the others until such time.

It's difficult to know just when that will be, but they estimate he will be hospitalized for at least three more weeks.

Keating-Pickering Memorial Fund - Idaho First Bank - PO Box 2950 - McCall, ID - 83638 -Phone: 208-634-1000