»Home   »Itinerary   »Dispatches   »Photos   »Maps   »Facts

Hudson Air pilot, Don Bowers, National Park Service Mountaineering Ranger, Cale Shaffer, Volunteer Patrol Rangers Brian Reagan and Adam Kolff were first reported missing at 6:30 p.m. last night. The plane was heading into the Kahiltna Base Camp at 7,200 feet, but was turned back due to unfavorable weather conditions.

"We had the best rescue crews in the state involved in this search today," said Superintendent Stephen P. Martin. "All of our hearts are aching, these men were members of the community of Talkeetna and the National Park Service. There are no words to describe what an incredible loss this is." The Alaska State Troopers, Civil Air Patrol, National Park Service aircraft, the Air National Guard and many air taxi operators participated in this search effort.

The National Park Service will coordinate the recovery effort tomorrow. The Alaska Mountain Rescue Group will assist in the operation

Search Still Underway on South Side of Denali National Park
Tuesday, June 20, 2000

An active search is still underway for a Hudson Air Service Cessna 185 that was last heard from at 6:30 p.m. Monday night. Pilot Don Bowers, 52, from Montana Creek, Alaska was flying National Park Service (NPS) Ranger Cale Shaffer, 25, and Volunteer Patrol Rangers Brian Reagan, 27, and Adam Kolff, 27, to the NPS Base Camp at 7,200-feet. They were headed in to begin their mountain patrol. Bowers reported to another pilot at Base Camp that they were turning back due to poor weather conditions. Search crews are focusing their efforts on the Kahiltna and Lacuna Glaciers. Several fixed-wing aircraft, two NPS helicopters (including the Lama), the Civil Air Patrol, and an Alaska State Trooper helicopter have all joined in the search. "We have all possible available resources focused on this search effort," said Superintendent Stephen P. Martin in Talkeetna. "The pilot and our rangers are equipped to camp in this type of environment and we are hoping for the best."

Four Missing, Search Underway on South Side of Denali National Park
Tuesday, June 20, 2000

A search is under way this morning on the south side of Denali National Park and Preserve for a missing airplane with four people on board.

The Hudson Air Service Cessna 185 was flying from Talkeetna to the Base Camp at the 7,200-foot elevation on the Kahiltna Glacier. At about 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 19, the pilot reported that he was going to turn around due to poor weather. The three passengers were scheduled to be part of a National Park Service mountaineering patrol on Mt. McKinley.

The names of the missing pilot and climbers are being withheld until their families are notified of the search.

This morning's search includes the National Park Service high-altitude Lama helicopter, which departed Talkeetna at 5:50 a.m. and is searching the Kahiltna and Lacuna glaciers. Also involved is a C-130 aircraft from the Alaska Air National Guard, and light aircraft from the Civil Air Patrol. The search is being directed out of the National Park Service ranger station in Talkeetna.

The C-130 flew over the search area for two-and-one-half hours on Monday night, as did aircraft from Hudson Air Service and Geeting Aviation in Talkeetna.

The Alaska State Trooper's helicopter, the National Park Service's Cessna 172 and fire management helicopter are joining the search in addition to the above resources. The weather is mixed with clouds and some clearing.

— Department of Interior, National Park Service


Email this story to a friend