Summary

  • A small plane carrying two people crashed in Crescent Lake, Alaska, killing both.
  • The crash involved a Piper PA-18 float plane and is being investigated by the NTSB.
  • Identified victims were Col. Mark Sletten and Paul Kodrat, with the aircraft owned by Scenic Mountain Air Inc.

A small airplane carrying two people crashed in a remote lake on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula around 100 miles south of Anchorage. Alaska Wildlife Troopers and the Alaskan Command identified the two people as Col. Mark “Tyson” Sletten and Paul Kodrat. Aircraft crashes are widely reported, so it can often seem like there are more aircraft crashes than there really are (especially with commercial airliners). 2023 was one of aviation’s safest records, with zero commercial airliners crashing.

Fatal Piper PA-18 crash in Alaska

On Tuesday, the two men were on an instructional flight when it crashed into Crescent Lake near Moose Pass. Search and rescue efforts found debris on the lake but no signs of survivors on the lake or on the lake shore. Both men have since been confirmed to have perished in the crash. The National Transport Safety Board is now investigating the crash and its cause.

A Piper PA-18 Super Cub Float Plane, Taking Off from Moosehead Lake, Greenville, ME, USA. (September 2021)

Photo: Kevin Porter / Shutterstock

On June 18th, the FAA reported, “A single-engine Piper PA-18 float plane crashed at Crescent Lake in Lawing, Alaska, around 2 p.m. local time on Tuesday, June 18. Two people were on board. The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will investigate. The NTSB will be in charge of the investigation and will provide further updates.

Two hikers have also notified authorities that they saw the aircraft crash into Crescent Lake on Tuesday afternoon.

According to the FAA, the aircraft, registered number N645DT, was manufactured in 1982. It was owned by Scenic Mountain Air Inc., an Alaska-based company offering fly-in fishing tours, fly-ins to remote cabins, scenic flight tours, and charters. The company says, “We strive, in every way, to provide the safest, most memorable flight-seeing experience possible.

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Bodies recovered, and aircraft refloated

According to a news report by Alasaka’s News Source dated June 20, 22:44, the bodies of the two men have been found. The news outlet quoted the Alaska State Troopers as saying the bodies were found inside the crashed Piper PA-18.

The troopers also stated that the aircraft had been floated and taken to shore while the bodies of the deceased were taken to the office of the State Medical Examiner. The article also states they found the missing Piper PA-18 Super Cub in around 193 feet of water.

Piper PA-18 float plane in Alaska

Photo: dvlcom l Shutterstock

An Associated Press article published later, on June 21st, adds some confusion. It states that the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center, with the help of volunteers, was still searching the lake using sonar, remotely operated vehicles, and trained divers. However, the Associated Press stated it was reporting on an email sent by troopers spokesperson Austin McDaniel, so it is possible it was reporting on out-of-date information.

Colonel Mark Sletten (aged 46) is an Air Force director of operations for the Alaskan Command. The Alaskan Command is responsible for homeland defense missions, security, and civil support. It is located at the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage and is part of the US Northern Command.

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