USCG file photo
The Coast Guard suspended its search for a missing pilot near Perry Island in Prince William Sound after his remains were discovered Wednesday evening.
The crew of the Alaska State Trooper vessel Churchhill located and recovered the man’s remains and the wreckage of his Cessna 180 airplane partially submerged along the coast of Culross Island.
Coast Guard, partner agency assets and good Samaritans searched the vicinity of Perry Island and Culross Island near Whittier for 27 hours in rough weather during their efforts to locate the man who went down in the area Tuesday afternoon.
Assets involved in the search included an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew and HC-130 Hercules airplane crew from Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak, a Coast Guard Station Valdez 45-foot response boat-medium crew, the crews of the Coast Guard Cutter Mustang and Coast Guard Cutter Sycamore, an Air Force 210th Rescue Squadron HH-60 Pavehawk helicopter crew and 211th Rescue Squadron HC-130 Hercules airplane crew from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska State Troopers and good Samaritan vessels.
“It is never easy when a search ends like this,” said Capt. Paul Mehler, Sector Anchorage commander. “This was a unified effort between Coast Guard, National Guard, Alaska State Troopers and numerous good Samaritans, and our thoughts and prayers are with the family and loved ones.”