Family Rescued After Plane Crash on Alaska's Tustumena Lake

A pilot and two children survived 12 hours in freezing conditions on a submerged plane's wing before being rescued; the crash's cause remains under investigation.

The crash of a Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser occurred on March 23, 2025, during a sightseeing flight from Soldotna Airport, Alaska.
The pilot and two juvenile passengers, all immediate family members, endured freezing overnight conditions on Tustumena Lake before being rescued by the Alaska Army National Guard.
Civilian pilot Terry Godes spotted the wreckage on March 24, leading to the rescue approximately 12 hours after the crash.
The plane was partially submerged in icy water, and the survivors were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the crash, with hazardous weather conditions in the Tustumena Lake area being a possible factor.

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