A serene sightseeing trip turned into a harrowing survival story for a pilot and two young children in Alaska. After their Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser crashed into the icy waters of Tustumena Lake, the trio found themselves stranded atop the wing of the submerged plane, clinging to life against the freezing temperatures.
‘They spent a long, cold, dark, wet night out on top of a wing of an airplane that they weren’t planning on. ‘
said Terry Godes, who played a crucial role in the rescue.
The crash occurred during a routine flight from Soldotna to Skilak Lake over the weekend, with no locator beacon on board, making the search efforts more arduous. A stroke of luck came when a Facebook post regarding the missing plane caught the attention of local pilots, leading Godes and others to conduct a search.
Seeing the wreckage from above, Godes initially thought the worst but was relieved to see movement on the wing as he closed in.
‘They were alive and responsive and moving around, ‘
Godes recounted with relief.
Their rescue was not just one of skill but a series of fortunate events. The Alaska Army National Guard dispatched a helicopter to retrieve the survivors. Despite initial plans to use a hoist, high winds necessitated an alternative. Instead, the helicopter hovered dangerously close to the wing, allowing rescuers to bring the survivors on board directly.
Temperatures during the night dipped into the 20s, adding to the peril. The pilot, whose identity remains undisclosed, suffered from hypothermia, yet the resilient children were surprisingly dry, a fact Lt. Col. Brendon Holbrook of the guard’s 207th Aviation Regiment found remarkable.
‘They found a way to stay relatively warm and out of the water as much as possible, ‘ he remarked.
The incident highlights the unpredictable nature of Alaska’s vast wilderness where a simple adventure can quickly spiral into a fight for survival. Family and friends, unaware of the precarious circumstances, hoped and prayed for a miracle.
Their collective effort and determination to locate their loved ones culminated in a heartening rescue confirming that hope and community spirit are powerful catalysts in times of crisis.