Zachary Blom Missing Person Case

Jun 07, 2017

Jan 04, 2021

Zachary

Blom

22

13

60 inches

90 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

In the small, tight-knit community of Port Alsworth, Alaska, the morning of December 7, 2016, marked the beginning of a devastating loss. Thirteen-year-old Zachary Blom, along with his father, Scott, and his sister, Kaitlyn, were set to travel to Anchorage. The purpose of their trip was to attend the Mixed Six Volleyball State Championship, an event their school, the Tanalian School, was competing in. Initially, the family had reservations to fly on a commercial carrier. However, they made a last-minute decision to travel with a 25-year-old private pilot, Kyle Longerbeam, in a single-engine Piper PA-28 Cherokee. The small aircraft only had room for four, so Zachary's mother took the originally scheduled commercial flight. The flight, which should have been a routine 90-minute journey, departed from Port Alsworth but never reached its destination in Anchorage. The disappearance of the aircraft triggered an immediate and extensive search. The day after the plane vanished, hope began to fade as debris from the aircraft was discovered floating in the frigid waters of Lake Clark. Among the items recovered were one of the plane's seats and three of its wheels, along with some personal belongings of those on board. Authorities concluded that the plane had crashed into the lake, a body of water known for its considerable depth. The search efforts were severely hampered by challenging weather conditions, including persistent ice fog, which is common in the area during that time of year. These conditions made air searches difficult and boat operations hazardous, ultimately leading to the suspension of the official search and recovery operations. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigated the presumed crash but faced significant challenges due to the lack of physical evidence from the main wreckage. The pilot, Kyle Longerbeam, was not rated for instrument flight and was required to fly under visual flight rules, which necessitate a certain level of visibility. While the weather was adequate for such a flight upon departure from Port Alsworth, conditions were known to be deteriorating along the flight path, with reports of low-lying freezing fog over Lake Clark. Despite the likelihood that poor visibility played a role, the NTSB's final report officially lists the cause of the crash as "undetermined." Without the recovery of the aircraft and those on board, Zachary Blom, his father, his sister, and the pilot are all presumed deceased, but their official status remains as missing. The loss was a profound tragedy for the small community of Port Alsworth, leaving a lasting impact on all who knew the Blom family and Kyle Longerbeam.

Dec 07, 2016

Port Alsworth

Alaska

Lake and Peninsula Borough

No

35127

Alaska State Troopers

Anchorage

Alaska

Anchorage Borough

99507

Malia Miller

Missing Persons Clearinghouse Manager

5700 East Tudor Road, Alaska

9072695511

State

Law Enforcement

AK16088663

2016-12-08

Alaska State Troopers

Brown

Hazel

Hazel

07/16/2026