ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Responders to the downed Cessna aircraft have located the plane about two and a one half miles offshore in northern Redoubt Bay at about 1:41 p.m. The plane has been recovered but the pilot, Randy Crawford, was not aboard.
The automated aircraft ELT activated and was located by the on scene search aircraft. The plane was submerged in the water up to the tail section.
The aircraft was recovered by the tank vessel Seabulk Nevada that was transiting Cook Inlet and responded to the Coast Guard Urgent Information Broadcast (UMIB). They visually confirmed the tail number of the aircraft and recovered the plane. The vessel hooked up their crane to the tail section and hoisted it on board intact. Once the plane was dewatered and secured to the deck they confirmed that the pilot was not on board.
A search is continuing for the pilot utilizing the Air National Guard HH-60 helicopter and C-130 fixed wing aircraft for about an hour before being relieved by a Coast Guard HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Kodiak.
The weather conditions on scene are reported as clear with light winds and an air temperature of -13 degrees Fahrenheit.
Source: USCG D17 Public Affairs
