A pilot and two girls miraculously survived a plane crash by clinging to the wing in a freezing Alaska lake for 12 hours.
A remarkable story of survival unfolded in Alaska when a pilot and two young girls survived a plane crash.
The incident occurred on a cold day as they were enjoying a sightseeing tour over Tustumena Lake.
The trio clung to the wing of their aircraft for twelve long hours until help arrived.
The crash was a frightening experience for everyone.
On Sunday, March 24, 2025, Terry Godes, a 38-year-old pilot, was flying with two young relatives.
They were taking in the beautiful scenery of the Kenai Peninsula when disaster struck.
The plane, a Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser, suddenly crashed into the icy waters of Tustumena Lake.
Witnesses reported that the plane was partially submerged in the lake.
As the aircraft went down, the pilot and the girls managed to climb onto the wing. This quick thinking was crucial for their survival.
They were exposed to freezing temperatures but stayed on the wing, hoping for rescue.
Pilot and two girls rescued after 12 hours clinging to plane wing in freezing Alaska lake following plane crash
The next day, a volunteer pilot named Terry Godes was searching for the downed plane. When he spotted the wreckage, he initially thought it was just debris.
However, as he got closer, he noticed movement on the wing. Godes was shocked to see three people waving at him for help.
Feeling a mix of hope and concern, he immediately contacted other volunteer pilots. They quickly organized a search and alerted the Alaska State Troopers.
Fellow pilot Dale Eicher joined the efforts, concerned about the weather conditions. The area was covered in clouds, making the search difficult.
“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 said.
“They were alive and responsive and moving around,” Godes said.
After hours of searching, the Alaska Army National Guard dispatched a helicopter to the scene.
The crew located the pilot and the girls, who were still clinging to the wing of the plane.
Although the girls were relatively dry, the pilot was suffering from mild hypothermia due to the cold water.
The helicopter crew acted quickly to lift the trio to safety. Lt. Col. Brendon Holbrook, who commanded the rescue operation, noted that the outcome was incredible.
None of the three sustained life-threatening injuries. “It was literally the best possible scenario and outcome,” he said.
“I wasn’t sure if we would find them, especially because there was a cloud layer over quite a bit of the mountains, so they could have very easily been in those clouds that we couldn’t get to,” Eicher said.
The pilot reflected on their incredible survival experience.
After the rescue, Terry Godes expressed his amazement at their survival. He noted how fortunate they were to have held onto the wing for so long.
“They spent a long, cold, dark, wet night out on top of a wing of an airplane that they weren’t planning on,” he said.
The girls showed great resilience during the ordeal. They remained calm and cooperative, which helped them get through the frightening experience.
Their bravery and the pilot’s quick thinking played a significant role in their survival.
“Ultimately, the crew of that airplane were lucky, because from what my guys told me, that plane was in the ice with the tail refrozen, and if that tail hadn’t refrozen, it would have sunk.”