A remarkable story emerged from Alaska, where a pilot and two young girls managed to survive for about 12 hours on the wing of their crashed plane. The Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser went down and partially sank in the icy waters of Tustumena Lake. Fortunately, a local man, Terry Godes, spotted them after he read a Facebook post about the missing aircraft.
Godes joined about a dozen other pilots in the search on Monday morning. As he approached the lake near the glacier, he felt a mix of hope and heartbreak at what might be wreckage. To his astonishment, he saw the three survivors waving from the plane’s wing.
“They were alive and responsive,” he said. He quickly notified other searchers, leading to their rescue by the Alaska Army National Guard.
The three were found on the eastern edge of the lake, unharmed but shaken. A state trooper reported that their injuries were not life-threatening. Godes emphasized the miraculous details of their survival: the plane didn’t sink completely, they managed to stay on the wing, and they endured the cold, which dipped into the 20s (Fahrenheit).
Alaska is known for its rugged terrain and few roads, making small planes vital for transportation. However, this isn’t the first tragedy in Alaskan air travel. Just last month, ten people lost their lives in a commuter plane crash near Nome, and five years ago, seven people, including a state lawmaker, were killed in a midair collision near Soldotna.
The rescue operation was challenging. Although the initial plan was to hoist the survivors from the wing, strong winds made this too dangerous. Instead, the helicopter hovered to the side, allowing the crew to safely pull the trio on board. Medical personnel noted that while the girls were surprisingly dry, the man exhibited signs of hypothermia.
Meteorologists, like Michael Kutz from the National Weather Service, described Tustumena Lake as notorious for its unpredictable winds. The terrain can create chaotic weather patterns, making flying dangerous.
The investigation into why the plane crashed is ongoing, with the National Transportation Safety Board working to contact the pilot for more information. Despite the terrifying ordeal, Godes and the rescuers viewed the outcome as a miracle. “It was literally the best possible scenario and outcome,” said Lieutenant Colonel Brendon Holbrook, adding that the circumstances surrounding their survival were truly remarkable.
For more insights on aviation safety trends, you can explore resources from the National Transportation Safety Board.
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Alaska, Plane crashes, General news, AK State Wire, Transportation, Mark Ward, Dale Eicher, U.S. news, Michael Kutz, Climate and environment, Terry Godes, Brendon Holbrook, Climate
