Nicolas Pettitt Missing Person Case

Oct 17, 2018

Feb 01, 2024

Nicolas

Pettitt

45

38

70 inches

205 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

In the vast and often unforgiving waters of the Bering Sea, a 38-year-old man named Nicolas Andres Pettitt vanished on September 27, 2018. He was aboard the fishing vessel Clipper Eric in a remote area, approximately 60 miles north of the isolated and uninhabited St. Matthew Island, Alaska. The last time anyone saw him was around 12:40 in the afternoon. At the time of his disappearance, Pettitt was reportedly wearing orange rain gear and a blue jacket, but he was not equipped with a personal flotation device or a survival suit, items that could have been crucial in the frigid Alaskan waters. The circumstances leading to him going missing from the vessel remain unclear. The master of the 162-foot fishing vessel, identified in one report as the Clipper Epic, promptly alerted the Coast Guard that a member of the crew was missing. This initiated an urgent and extensive search effort in the challenging conditions of the Bering Sea. The Coast Guard's 17th District command center in Juneau issued a marine information broadcast to alert any vessels in the vicinity. A C-130 Hercules aircrew from Air Station Kodiak was launched to conduct an aerial search. They were joined by the crews of other fishing vessels in the area, including the Frontier Spirit and the Frontier Mariner, who volunteered to aid in the search for the missing fisherman. The Coast Guard Cutter Douglas Munro was also dispatched to the scene to assist in the operation. Despite the comprehensive search that continued through the night, no trace of Nicolas Pettitt was ever found. The search was hampered by the challenging environmental conditions, which included 15 mph winds and 5-foot seas, although visibility was at 10 miles. The air and water temperatures were 48 and 50 degrees respectively, underscoring the grave danger for anyone in the water without protective gear. The search efforts were ultimately unsuccessful in locating him. The case of Nicolas Pettitt is a somber reminder of the perils faced by those who make their living on the sea, particularly in the isolated and treacherous waters off the coast of Alaska. His disappearance remains an open and unresolved missing persons case, a source of enduring uncertainty and sorrow for his loved ones.

Sep 27, 2018

St. Matthew Island

Alaska

Northwest Arctic Borough

No

41415

Alaska State Troopers

Anchorage

Alaska

Anchorage Borough

99507

Malia Miller

Missing Persons Clearinghouse Manager

5700 East Tudor Road, Alaska

9072695511

State

Law Enforcement

AK18074972

2018-10-12

Alaska State Troopers

9893

Brown

Brown

Brown

07/20/2026