As the article states:
Sadly, authorities believe Copping died trying to cross the desert. The nearest town from the crash site is 200 miles away.
“Once he had crashed there nobody was going to come and get him,” Saunders said. “It is more likely he tried to walk out of the desert but ended up walking to his death. It is too hideous to contemplate.”
Looks like I should have read more...
This is just like landing in the ocean. Same results. Death.