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Missing pilots

aktango58

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18AA
Sam Wright of Haines and Hans Munich from Yakutat, (Yakutat Coastal Air), have been missing for three days between Juneau and Yakutat.

Search Suspended last night.

With them was Han's wife Tanya. They were flying in Sam's Bonanza.

My hats off to the USCG for their efforts, focused mainly at the 10,000 and above area east of Lituya Bay.

Condolences to the families.

Sam was top shelf, human, pilot and wrench. Tailwinds my friend.
 
Sorry to hear this George. I hope they’re found.

An eerie ring to it. Reminds me of the pre-elt stories about Juan and Boggs.
 
George

Sure hits home. Sad to see Sam, Hans and Tanya gone like this. As luck would have it, got to speak with both Hans and Sam within the last month. Sorry for the loss to you and others in Haines, Yakutat, and beyond.
 
News article came out stating that they had the tracking information, and where it was last pinged they found a fresh avalanche.

The working theory, why they discontinued the search, is that the plane impacted the mountain setting off the avalanche and burying the aircraft.

No plans for recovery by the Coast Guard.
 
Today, I saw on FlightAware that some local pilots flew to the last known location of Sam’s flight. Visibility seemed marginal from way over here in Juneau and the comfort of my home. I’m curious if they were able to corroborate the CAP area of disturbance and avalanche reports. Media reporting East of Crillon.

I suppose a plane crash that contributes to an avalanche isn't out of the realm of possibilities. Witnessing disturbances and terrain that has moved or that has recently been dynamic is not uncommon for an area as rugged as this zone. I know most want to find them and provide some level of closure.

Attached photo is one I too of the Crillon Massif from the Pacific ocean side a few springs back. The last tracking lat/lon for the flight had an approx location somewhere near the red circle in my estimates. Other side of the mountain sure looks steep and cracked up from Google Eart but I haven't ever laid eyes on it.
 

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