John Cushman Missing Person Case

Aug 27, 2019

Jan 30, 2024

John

Cushman

78

36

68 inches

200 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

On a fall day in 1983, a flight over the Alaskan wilderness marked the beginning of an enduring mystery. On October 31, 36-year-old John Milton Cushman, along with three other individuals, boarded a Cessna 206 aircraft in Nondalton, a small community on the shores of Sixmile Lake. Their destination was Kenai, a city on the Kenai Peninsula, but the plane, with tail number N9975, would never arrive. Cushman, a brown-haired man with hazel eyes, was accompanied by Sheila Cella, Dewey Baily, and Hunter Wells on this fateful journey. The group's disappearance triggered a response, yet despite efforts, no trace of the Cessna or its four occupants has ever been found, leaving their families with unanswered questions and a profound sense of loss. The flight from Nondalton to Kenai would have taken them over some of Alaska's most rugged and unforgiving terrain. The vast wilderness, characterized by dense forests, mountains, and unpredictable weather, has unfortunately been the setting for numerous aircraft disappearances over the years. Flying is a common and often necessary mode of transportation in a state with limited road access, but it carries inherent risks. The circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the Cessna 206 remain unknown. Whether they encountered severe weather, experienced mechanical failure, or became disoriented is purely speculative. The lack of any wreckage, distress signals, or debris has left investigators with very few clues to piece together what happened on that Halloween day. The case of John Cushman and his fellow passengers is a somber reminder of the power of nature and the vulnerabilities of aviation, particularly in remote regions. For the families of Cushman, Cella, Baily, and Wells, the lack of closure is a heavy burden. The Alaska State Troopers opened an investigation at the time, but without any physical evidence, the case has remained cold. It stands as a testament to the vastness of the Alaskan landscape and the painful reality that sometimes, despite the best efforts of searchers, the wilderness holds its secrets close. The disappearance of the Cessna and its four occupants remains an unsolved mystery, a story of a journey that ended without a destination, leaving behind only questions and the enduring pain of not knowing.

Oct 31, 1983

Kenai

Alaska

Kenai Peninsula Borough

No

60987

Alaska State Troopers

Anchorage

Alaska

Anchorage Borough

99507

Malia Miller

Missing Persons Clearinghouse Manager

5700 East Tudor Road, Alaska

9072695511

State

Law Enforcement

C83006371

1983-10-31

Alaska State Troopers

Brown

Hazel

Hazel

07/16/2026