Phillip Crossan Missing Person Case

Apr 02, 2019

Jan 11, 2024

Phillip

Crossan

95

49

74 inches

201 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

On May 12, 1980, 49-year-old Phillip Edward Crossan embarked on a rescue mission from a base hunting camp in Iniskin Bay, Alaska. He set out in a 14-foot skiff, intending to pick up two hunters who had become stranded. A witness later reported seeing Mr. Crossan navigating a channel in the main part of the bay, noting that he appeared to be struggling against the strong tide. The witness watched as he eventually went out of sight, heading towards the open waters of the Cook Inlet. This was the last time anyone reported seeing Phillip Crossan. He was a married man, wearing a wedding band, a tiger eye ring, and a watch at the time of his disappearance. His attire was suited for the Alaskan wilderness and included a red and black plaid shirt, a red hunting jacket covered with green rain gear, a military-style parka, light-green wool tweed pants, and stocking-foot waders with brown sorrel boots. The day after he was last seen, on May 13, 1980, the skiff Phillip Crossan had been operating was found. It was discovered approximately six miles into Iniskin Bay, west of the shore, but there was no trace of Mr. Crossan himself. The discovery of the empty boat prompted extensive search efforts in the vast and rugged landscape of the Kenai Peninsula Borough. Despite the numerous searches conducted by authorities and volunteers, no further evidence or clues to his whereabouts were ever found. The challenging conditions of the bay, known for its strong tides and unpredictable weather, likely complicated the search from the outset. The disappearance of Phillip Crossan has remained an unresolved case for decades. He was a Caucasian male with brown hair and blue eyes, and a distinguishing vertical scar over his left eyebrow. The official report of his disappearance was filed with the Alaska State Troopers on May 15, 1980. Over the years, his case has been entered into national missing persons databases in the hope that new information might come to light. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance point to a tragic accident at sea, a brave attempt to help others that ended in his own vanishing. Without any further evidence, the case remains an open and sorrowful mystery, a testament to the unforgiving nature of the Alaskan wilderness.

May 12, 1980

Iniskin Bay

Alaska

Kenai Peninsula Borough

No

48919

Alaska State Troopers

Anchorage

Alaska

Anchorage Borough

99507

Malia Miller

Missing Persons Clearinghouse Manager

5700 East Tudor Road, Alaska

9072695511

State

Law Enforcement

D801793

1980-05-15

Alaska State Troopers

Brown

Blue

Blue

07/19/2026