A dramatic rescue unfolded on an icy Alaska lake after a pilot and his two young daughters endured a harrowing 12-hour ordeal atop their partially submerged aircraft's wing.
According to AP News, the family was discovered Monday morning on the eastern edge of Tustumena Lake by good Samaritan Terry Godes, who joined a dozen other pilots in searching for the missing Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser after seeing John Morris's Facebook plea for help locating his son and granddaughters.
The aircraft, which lacked a locator beacon, had crashed during what was meant to be a routine sightseeing tour from Soldotna to Skilak Lake on the Kenai Peninsula. The survivors spent the night in freezing temperatures, with the pilot suffering from hypothermia after getting wet while his daughters remarkably stayed dry throughout the ordeal.
Community search effort leads to miraculous discovery
Terry Godes spotted what appeared to be wreckage near a glacier while surveying the area. As he flew closer to investigate, he witnessed an extraordinary sight that would stay with him forever.
Godes described his emotional discovery to AP News:
It kind of broke my heart to see that, but as I got closer down and lower, I could see that there's three people on top of the wing. They were alive and responsive and moving around.
Fellow pilot Dale Eicher played a crucial role in the rescue by relaying the coordinates to authorities, leading to a successful Alaska Army National Guard operation. The National Guard dispatched a helicopter from Anchorage to execute the rescue.
Dangerous conditions complicate rescue mission
The rescue presented unique challenges due to Tustumena Lake's notorious weather patterns. The 60,000-acre body of water, situated 80 miles southwest of Anchorage, is known for its unpredictable and dangerous winds.
Lt. Col. Brendon Holbrook, commander of the 207th Aviation Regiment, explained that the initial plan to hoist the survivors directly from the wing had to be abandoned. The helicopter's downdraft posed too great a risk to the youngest daughter, forcing the crew to adopt an alternative approach.
The survivors were found wearing only basic clothing typical for small aircraft travel, wholly insufficient for the harsh winter conditions they faced. Despite the circumstances, their survival was aided by the plane's tail becoming frozen in the ice, preventing it from sinking completely.
Looking back at Alaska's aviation challenges
Alaska's reliance on small aircraft transportation has led to several tragic incidents in recent years. Just last month, ten lives were lost when an overloaded commuter plane crashed onto sea ice near Nome.
The state's challenging terrain and weather conditions continue to test even experienced pilots. Five years ago, a midair collision near Soldotna claimed seven lives, including a state lawmaker.
The National Transportation Safety Board's Alaska division is currently investigating the crash. Mark Ward, an NTSB investigator, indicated that contact had not yet been established with the pilot to determine the cause of the accident.
Miracle on Tustumena Lake
A father and his two young daughters survived a terrifying ordeal after their Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser crashed into Tustumena Lake during what should have been a routine sightseeing flight. Thanks to a community-led search effort and the swift response of the Alaska Army National Guard, the family was rescued after spending 12 hours on their partially submerged aircraft's wing in freezing temperatures. While the cause of the crash remains under investigation, the incident highlights both the risks and resilience inherent in Alaska's aviation-dependent lifestyle.
