Pilot and 2 children survive the night on airplane wing after crashing into icy Alaska lake

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By MARK THIESSEN
Updated 8:26 PM CDT, March 25, 2025

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A pilot and two girls survived on the wing of a plane for about 12 hours after it crashed and was partially submerged in an icy Alaska lake, then were rescued after being spotted by a good Samaritan.

Terry Godes said he saw a Facebook post Sunday night calling for people to help search for the missing plane, which did not have a locator beacon. On Monday morning about a dozen pilots including Godes headed out to scour the rugged terrain. Godes headed toward Tustumena Lake near the toe of a glacier and spotted what he thought was wreckage.

“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,” he told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

After saying a prayer, he continued to approach and saw a miracle.



Read more: https://apnews.com/article/alaska-plane-submerged-ice-rescue-f385057ebd03c32cd6d766d2c521e856

[Marthe48]

1. Thanks for posting

Glad they are safe

[live love laugh]

2. WOW so happy for them what a blessing.

[Hope22]

3. So glad they are safe!

Great work on everyone’s part!

[bluedigger]

4. Good piloting.

More of a landing on a lake than a crash. Looks like he lost engine power and brought it down on the ice. It did eventually crash through the ice, though, so I suppose that counts. PA-12 Super Cruiser is a single engine post WW2 aircraft. Basically a four seat Piper Cub. Relatively light weight, as it has a tube frame covered in fabric, which no doubt helped it stay on top of the ice. (I owned a PA-16 years ago - very similar.) Good job, Dad!