Family of Three Rescued After Plane Crash on Frozen Alaska Lake

A man and two children survived a Piper PA-12 crash and were rescued after 12 hours on a frozen lake; the NTSB is investigating the cause.

The small plane, carrying a pilot and two children, crashed on Tustumena Lake in Alaska's Kenai Peninsula on March 23, 2025.
The family was found on the wing of the partially submerged plane and rescued by the Alaska Army National Guard 12 hours after the crash.
The crash site was initially located by a civilian pilot, highlighting the strong community response in Alaska during aviation emergencies.
Search efforts involved multiple agencies, including the Alaska National Guard, Alaska State Troopers, and the U.S. Coast Guard.
The NTSB has launched an investigation into the crash, with plans to interview the pilot and recover the aircraft to determine the cause.