In Anchorage, Alaska, a harrowing survival story unfolded after a small plane crash. A pilot and his two young daughters managed to stay alive for nearly 12 hours atop the partially submerged wing of their aircraft in a frigid Alaska lake, before being rescued due to the alert actions of a good Samaritan.
Terry Godes was motivated to join the search effort after seeing a Facebook post about the missing plane, which was reported without a locator beacon. On Monday morning, Godes, along with a group of fellow pilots, took to the skies to scour the harsh and rugged terrain. Upon arriving near Tustumena Lake, close to a glacier’s toe, Godes noticed debris that caught his attention.
Although initially disheartened at the sight, his spirits lifted upon realizing that three people were indeed on the wing of the plane. “I could see that there’s three people on top of the wing,” he recalled, feeling a wave of relief when the trio waved at him.
The missing aircraft, a Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser, had been on a sightseeing trip from Soldotna to Skilak Lake on the Kenai Peninsula. The ages of the two children on board were not immediately available.
John Morris, the father and grandfather of the missing family members, made a desperate plea on social media, calling for help to locate them as they were overdue from a flight the previous afternoon. “This is my plea for any and all help to locate my family,” he expressed early Monday.
The rescue took place on the eastern bank of Tustumena Lake, as the Alaska Army National Guard responded to Godes’ notification of the crash site. Dale Eicher, another pilot, relayed the news to state troopers and shared coordinates using his possibly superior cell reception, aiding in their timely rescue.
Eicher expressed doubts about the success of the search due to low cloud cover, but finding the family alive within an hour was a blessing and great news. The survivors were transported to the hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening, according to Alaska State Troopers.
Godes remarked on the miraculous nature of their survival, attributing it to several factors. These included the aircraft not sinking, the survival strategies employed atop the wing, and enduring the plummeting nighttime temperatures, which dipped into the 20s Fahrenheit (subzero Celsius). “They spent a long, cold, dark, wet night out on top of the wing,” he stated.
Alaska’s reliance on small aircraft for transportation is underscored by a sparse road network. Tragically, just last month, 10 lives were lost when an overloaded commuter plane crashed into the Norton Sound near Nome. Similarly, a midair collision near Soldotna airport claimed seven lives, including a state lawmaker, five years prior.
For this particular rescue, the National Guard deployed a helicopter from Anchorage. Initially planning to use a hoist for extraction, the team altered their approach when strong winds from the helicopter complicated stabilizing the youngest survivor. Instead, the helicopter hovered nearby and successfully gathered the trio aboard.
Lt. Col. Brendon Holbrook, of the 207th Aviation Regiment, noted the hypothermic condition of the adult when recovered, contrasting with the relatively dry state of the children. Their clothing was considered inadequate for the ambient wintry conditions. “It was literally the best possible scenario and outcome,” Holbrook reflected, noting how fortunate it was that the plane didn’t sink.
Tustumena Lake, the Kenai Peninsula’s largest freshwater body, covers 60,000 acres (24,200 hectares) and lies approximately 80 miles (130 kilometers) southwest of Anchorage. Known for its sudden, often treacherous winds, the area can pose significant hazards for both watercraft and aircraft.
Meteorologist Michael Kutz from the National Weather Service in Anchorage commented on the region’s volatile weather patterns, intensified by the surrounding topography. Godes concurred, explaining how the geographical features of the area create turbulent conditions.
Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board’s Alaska division have yet to determine the cause of the crash, and communication with the pilot has not been successfully established. Further attempts to contact him were planned for Wednesday.