An Air Force colonel, Mark “Tyson” Sletten, and Utah resident Paul Kondrat are missing after a small plane crashed into Crescent Lake near Moose Pass on the Kenai Peninsula during an instructional flight. Two hikers witnessed the Piper PA-18 go down on Tuesday afternoon, prompting a search and rescue effort that unfortunately only found debris and no survivors. The Alaska Dive, Search, Rescue and Recovery Team used sonar, remotely operated vehicles, and divers to search the deep lake for the missing men.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash and trying to gather information from witnesses who saw the accident at Crescent Lake. The depth of the lake, which is over 200 feet deep in some areas, has made recovery efforts challenging. Despite the search efforts, the plane’s exact location and depth in the lake remain unknown. The NTSB hopes to speak with witnesses to gain a clearer understanding of what occurred during the crash.
Alaskan Command, where Col. Sletten serves as the head of operations, is based at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage. This command is responsible for homeland defense missions, civil support, and security as part of US Northern Command. The tragic incident has left the military community and local residents deeply saddened as they await updates on the search and rescue efforts. The missing men, Col. Sletten and Paul Kondrat, are both experienced individuals who were involved in the aviation community.
The small aircraft crash has prompted an extensive effort by Alaska Wildlife Troopers, the Alaska Department of Public Safety, and volunteer search and rescue teams to locate any survivors and recover the wreckage from Crescent Lake. The use of sonar, remotely operated vehicles, and divers has been vital in searching the deep waters of the lake for any sign of the missing men. The community has come together to support the search efforts and offer condolences to the families of those involved in the tragic incident.
The state troopers and wildlife officials have been working diligently to gather information about the crash and coordinate the search and rescue efforts at Crescent Lake. The remote location of the lake and the depth of the water have posed challenges for recovery teams attempting to locate the missing aircraft. The NTSB is leading the investigation into the cause of the crash and is relying on witness accounts to piece together what happened during the flight instructing incident. The search and recovery efforts continue as authorities work to bring closure to this tragic event.
As the search and recovery efforts at Crescent Lake continue, the military community and residents in Alaska are anxiously waiting for updates on the situation. Col. Sletten’s role as the head of operations for the Alaskan Command has added a sense of urgency to the search efforts, as colleagues and friends hope for a successful outcome. The dedication and hard work of the search and rescue teams, along with the support of volunteers, have been critical in the ongoing efforts to recover the missing plane and find Col. Sletten and Paul Kondrat.
