7-year-old girl survives Kentucky plane crash

On Saturday, January 3, an Illinois family was headed from Florida to their home in southern Illinois when their plane crashed in a heavily wooded area of western Kentucky.  Four of the people on board, a dad, mom, 14-year-old daughter and 9-year-old niece all died in the crash, but a plucky second grader, Sailor Gutzler walked away from the crash as the sole survivor.

The girl's dad had taught his daughters survival skills and Sailor used that knowledge to guide her 3/4 mile trek through a dark, thickly wooded area.  She used a branch to make a torch from the burning wing of the plane.  Even though she was injured with a broken wrist and numerous cuts, she managed to reach the home of Larry Wilkens, who put in the 911 distress call to authorities.

Searchers combing the area on Sunday called her survival "miraculous". The girl's family thanked all responders for their help in assisting Sailor and locating the plane wreckage.

NBC News story