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A Miraculous Rescue: Family Survives Plane Crash in Alaska
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — In an astonishing turn of events, a pilot and two children managed to survive on the wing of their aircraft for roughly 12 hours after it crashed and partially submerged in an icy Alaskan lake. Their plight was brought to light by a compassionate bystander who intervened for their rescue.
Terry Godes learned about the missing plane through a Facebook post on Sunday night, prompting him to join a group of about a dozen pilots searching for the aircraft the following morning. The plane, a Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser, lacked a locator beacon, complicating search efforts. Godes directed his search toward Tustumena Lake, situated at the base of a glacier, where he first spotted what appeared to be wreckage.
“It was heartbreaking at first, but as I got closer, I was astonished to see three people on top of the wing,” Godes recounted later to The Associated Press.
After taking a moment for reflection and prayer, Godes moved closer, eventually realizing the remarkable news: all three individuals were alive and alert, actively waving as he approached.
The Piper was piloted by a male family member accompanied by two children during a recreational flight from Soldotna to Skilak Lake. Their rescue occurred on the eastern shore of Tustumena Lake on Monday morning, following Godes’s report to other pilots. Dale Eicher, another pilot involved in the search, relayed Godes’s information to authorities, offering critical coordinates to aid in the operation.
“I was uncertain if we would be able to locate them, especially with cloud cover obscuring much of the mountain range,” Eicher noted. However, he expressed relief at the discovery, which came about an hour into the search. “Finding them alive was very reassuring.”
The Alaska State Troopers confirmed that the three survivors were transported to a local hospital with injuries that were not deemed life-threatening.
“They endured an exceptionally long and freezing night perched atop an airplane wing, which was not part of their original plan,” Godes remarked.
Godes emphasized the many elements that contributed to the group’s survival—most notably, the fact that the airplane remained afloat and the survivors managed to stay on the wing through cold temperatures that dipped into the 20s Fahrenheit (subzero Celsius).
The wreckage was primarily submerged, with only the wing and the top portion of the rudder visible above the icy water, according to Godes.
In Alaska, where communities often rely on small planes for transport, such incidents can have tragic outcomes. Just last month, a serious accident resulted in the deaths of ten individuals when a small commuter plane crashed into sea ice in the Norton Sound.
Five years prior, a midair collision near the Soldotna airport tragically claimed seven lives, including that of a state lawmaker.
On Monday, the Alaska Army National Guard deployed a helicopter from Anchorage for the rescue operation. Although the initial rescue plan involved using a hoist, conditions proved too perilous for that approach, especially for the youngest occupant. Instead, the helicopter maneuvered adjacent to the aircraft’s wing, safely extricating the trio.
Reports indicated that while the two girls were relatively dry, the adult male had been exposed to the water, leading to hypothermia, as explained by Lt. Col. Brendon Holbrook, commander of the Guard’s 207th Aviation Regiment.
Holbrook noted that the survivors were dressed in typical Alaska-appropriate clothing, but not adequate for the challenging outdoor conditions they faced overnight. “Considering the circumstances, the outcome was exceptionally fortunate,” he remarked. “Lucky for the crew, the tail of the plane had refrozen into the ice; otherwise, it would have sunk.”
While the crash’s cause remains under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration, Tustumena Lake, known for its unpredictable and hazardous winds, presents considerable risks for both aviation and boating.
The expansive 60,000-acre Tustumena Lake is located about 80 miles southwest of Anchorage. Its topography, featuring mountains and glaciers, contributes to challenging weather phenomena that can create dangerous conditions for those navigating its waters, as outlined by meteorologists.
“Even under seemingly mild conditions, the surrounding terrain can produce turbulent winds that can transform quickly,” noted Michael Kutz from the National Weather Service in Anchorage.
Godes affirmed the area’s notorious windiness, adding that the lake’s freshwaters can become tumultuous under stormy conditions, complicating any travel plans.
“The lake’s proximity to the glacier, with mountains framing it, creates a turbulent mix that challenges even seasoned pilots,” he stated, outlining the unique natural challenges of the region.
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