The plane wreckage near the eastern side of Tustemena Lake – credit Dale Eicher
Today’s good news comes from the Good News Network
Rescuers Relieved to Find Pilot, 2 Children Survived Crash Landing on Frozen Alaskan Lake
Fearing the worst after a prop plane was reported overdue for landing in Alaska last Sunday, search and rescue volunteers were relieved when news rang out that all three passengers survived.
The pilot and two children, who were in elementary and middle school, survived a crash landing on the frozen surface of Tustumena Lake and walked until they were seen.
The story first broke Sunday night/Monday morning that a Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser, which departed Sunday from Soldotna Airport near Kenai on a sightseeing trip, didn’t land when it should have.
John Morris, the father of the missing pilot, told CNN affiliate Alaska’s News Source that his son’s cell phone sent its final ping at about 5:00 p.m. Sunday evening over Tustumena.
Alaska’s News Source reports that a National Guard and state trooper search and rescue operation was augmented by volunteers from the community. One family friend posted a notice for help on Facebook that was re-shared 420 times.
Eventually, a Good Samaritan who saw the plane wreckage and three people walking on the frozen lake helped rescuers find them.
The three survivors were taken to a Kenai Peninsula area hospital and treated for “non-life-threatening injuries.”
Dale Eicher was one of the locals who heard the call for help. With a background in assisting search and rescues, he went up in his own plane to look for survivors but had barely arrived in the last known position before he heard over the radio that three people had been reported found.
“I called the troopers immediately because I was still in cell service, and I knew it was a really good chance that the guy who had found him was not in cell service,” Eicher said. ” I was really shocked. I didn’t expect that we would find them. I didn’t expect we would find them alive for sure…it doesn’t always turn out this well.”
The good news here is the community went all out to find the survivors of a plane crash even though it seemed unlikely anyone could survive. Today’s JohnKu talks about hope. I wish you all a super weekend.
Optimism by John W. Howell ©2025
Against all the odds,
Hope always carries its weight . . .
To make miracles.
Fiction Favorites 
Oh John, what a way to start my day here in England.
It’s great news that these 3 were found and not seriously injured.
It is wonderful that so many of the community rallied in spreading news and aiding in that rescue.
Hope… is everyone’s lifeline. Community working together keeps it strong.
Thank you, John, for that good news story.
Have a wonderful weekend, all of you. X
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Thank you, Sue. It is not a big story but one that has heart. I hope you have a peaceful weekend.😊
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Thank you John and all of you too ❤
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😊
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It’s wonderful that they were found and were ok, definitely good news. It must have been such a scary and traumatic experience. Thanks for sharing, John. Happy Friday! 😊
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I thought the same thing, Laure. Happy Friday to you.
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Amazing story, John, and out of tragedy we still find good news. Grab hold of hope and never let go!
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Hope is the mortar that allows us to build our lives.
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Absolutely, John, and I recall that Charles Reveson of Revlon fame put it this way: “In the factory we make cosmetics; in the store we sell hope.” Hope and writers are like wet and water, shaping the lives of young and old.
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I agree, Grant. I like your idea of wet and water as a descriptor for hope and writers.
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Rescue troopers are amazing people.
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They certainly are. Thanks, GP.
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That’s great. Them walking means no major injuries, right?
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I came to the same conclusion. Super pilot, for sure.
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Lucky group for sure.
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Yes they were.
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Miraculous news – so glad they weren’t seriously injured. Have a great weekend, John!
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Thank you, Teri. I hope your weekend is special.
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Thank you for the Friday good news, John!
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I’m so glad you liked it, Liz.
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😊
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Wow! This is such fabulous news and especially in light of the rash of crashes of late. Thank you for sharing this SMILE making/Heartwarming news!!
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It was a pleasure, Annette. Glad it brought you a smile.
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What a beautiful and heartwarming share this morning, John.
Thank you for keeping Fridays for good stuff!
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Yes, I always will keep Fridays for good news. Thank you, Dale.
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I love that you do 🙂
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🤗
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This is the season of miracles, John, and what a heartwarming story. The pilot did a good job landing them all safely.
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He did. It could have turned out much worse.
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Locals helping the rescue crew is wonderful, John. I’m glad to read that.
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I was too, Tim. It is good to know folks can be counted upon when times get tough. 😀
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It sure is. 😊
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😀
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Dear John
What a great community, and it is great news that nobody was badly injured.
We wish you a happy weekend
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
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I agree, Klausbernd. I wish the F4oC a super weekend.
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Against all odds–the best three words!
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Yes, They are the best. Thanks, Lois.
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Well, that first photo melted my heart, John. It truly is a dog’s life.
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It is. Thanks, Lauren.
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What a great story. Thanks for sharing.
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I thought so, too, Darlene. 😀
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You give us something to make us smile on a Friday. A tragedy but it just shows there’s always hope 😊
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Yes, hope wins. Thanks, Esther.
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A miracle, indeed! Thanks for passing along this good news, John.
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I liked this story, too. Thanks, Debbie.
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That is wonderful news they were found, John:)
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I agree, Denise. Quite a nice outcome.
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I love these feel-good Friday posts, John. And your JohnKu says it all!
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Thank you, Jan. I’m glad you do like them. Thanks for the compliment on the JohnKu.
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Wow…can’t believe they survived. I mean what are the chances out in that wilderness. That does give one pause for hope, for sure! Thanks for sharing, John. These good news stories are quite the lifeline in a world gone mad.
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Thank you, Monika. I also enjoy them and hope to find a good one each week. 😀
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Oh wow, thank goodness! What an amazing story. Thank you for sharing and a super weekend to you!
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Thank you, and to you.
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I am always amazed at the efforts of a community when something like this happens. You expect your emergency personnel and local volunteers to step up, sure. That’s what they do. But it’s everybody else as well. The private citizens who give their time and energy to forge the kind of ending we read about here.
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And we love to read them, too.
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We do
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😊
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Wow! I imagine the number of survivors in a plane crash has to be awfully small. Love your good news Friday stories, John.
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Thank you, Pete. I like them too. I hope you have a super weekend.
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That’s amazing. Thanks for sharing something so positive, John. Hugs.
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Always love to share these good news stories, Teagan. Thank you for letting me know you like them.
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It is wonderful that they survived and were found. Trulyt a good news story.
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It could have been so much worse. I agree with the fact that it is a good news story for sure.
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I love these stories and truly believe most people are good, and do good things. Thank you, John.
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I agree with you, Jennie. It is a matter of finding the stories.
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Exactly! Murders make a more interesting story for the press. 🙄
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It is a wonderful story, John.
Miracle or whatever, hope is something to hang onto in the meantime.
Your JohnKu says it!
🌟𝓧 🌟𝓧
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Thank you, Resa. We all need hope. 😀X
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YES! OX
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😊X
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I’m really happy to know this turned out well, John.
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Great tidings! Thank you, dear John!🍻🍤🍤🍤
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Friday news is the best.
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Quite a wonderful ending to a harrowing episode in their young lives.
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You said it so well. I agree. 😊
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Thank goodness for the happy ending. Now that’s good news! 🙂
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Yes, it is. Thanks, Debby.
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How terrifying. I’m glad this has a happy ending, but, of course, that’s the point of these posts. 🙂
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Yes, that is the point, but I’m glad too.
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