A heartbreaking aviation tragedy unfolded on 18-Jun-2026 when a small aircraft flying through the rugged wilderness of Alaska crashed, claiming the life of its sole occupant, Michael “Mike” Grimes, a Bay Area father, husband, and private pilot.
According to the Alaska State Troopers, authorities were notified around 8:00 p.m. on Thursday after a Piper PA-20 Pacer (registration N7635K) was reported overdue. The vintage aircraft, built in 1950, had departed Yakutat and was en route to Fairbanks with only the pilot on board.
An extensive search operation was immediately launched involving the Alaska Air National Guard and Alaska Wildlife Troopers. After battling Alaska’s vast and mountainous terrain, a National Guard helicopter crew located the wreckage on Friday afternoon approximately 40 miles southeast of Cordova, near Kanak Island.
Sadly, Michael Grimes was found deceased at the crash site. His body was recovered and transported to the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Anchorage for autopsy and formal identification.
The tragedy has devastated Grimes’ family. According to a GoFundMe campaign organized by his sister, Christina McNabb, on behalf of his wife Amber Grimes, Michael was a devoted husband of nearly 30 years and a loving father to two daughters, Riley and Ryann.
The timing of the accident has made the loss even more heartbreaking. Father’s Day fell just three days after the crash, and the following Sunday would have marked Michael and Amber’s 30th wedding anniversary—milestones that the family will now face without him.
At this time, the cause of the crash has not been determined. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident, including weather conditions, aircraft performance, and other contributing factors.
