Missing Katmai Floatplane Debris Found After Month-long Search

Debris from a floatplane that disappeared over one month ago carrying four people in Katmai National Park was found near Sukoi Bay on Tuesday.

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By Colleen Kelly

Story Created: Feb 21, 2011 at 4:37 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Feb 21, 2011 at 4:37 PM AKDT

Original article posted Sept. 29, 2010

Debris from a floatplane that disappeared over one month ago carrying four people in Katmai National Park was found near Sukoi Bay on Tuesday. 

A local helicopter pilot Sam Egli discovered the debris while on a commercial flying job. <
 
Numbers found on a piece of the plane's tail identified the single-engine deHavilland Beaver floatplane as the same craft that disappeared Aug. 21. Egli notified Katmai National Park Superintendent Ralph Moore and told park officials there was no indication of survivors.
 
National Park Service and military personnel are heading to the site Wednesday morning to secure the debris and continue the search for additional wreckage. 
 
Three of the four onboard were Katmai National Park employees: They were Mason McLeod, 26, and brothers, Neal Spradlin, 28, and Seth Spradlin, 20. The pilot was 47-year-old Marco Alletto of King Salmon. 
 
National park, military and civilian personnel flew over 60,000 miles to conduct the aerial and ground search, said the National Park Service.
 
The National Park Service believes high tides and high east winds on Monday and Tuesday helped make the debris more visible from the air.
 
The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the accident.

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