Thomas Banks Missing Person Case

Dec 06, 2017

Mar 13, 2024

Thomas

Banks

72

33

68 inches

180 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

In the vast and often unforgiving waters of Alaska, a 33-year-old man named Thomas A. Banks, also known to friends as Tom, disappeared on June 19, 1987. He was aboard the fishing vessel Cape Chacon, which was navigating the challenging seas off the coast of Cordova, Alaska. Thomas, a white male with blond hair and blue eyes, stood at 68 inches tall and weighed approximately 180 pounds. The day was like many others for the hardworking fishermen of the region, filled with the promise of a bountiful catch but always shadowed by the inherent dangers of the sea. The circumstances surrounding Thomas's disappearance are tied to a sudden and tragic maritime event. The 44-foot seiner, the Cape Chacon, found itself caught in heavy seas and ultimately capsized and sank. The incident occurred in the Gulf of Alaska, about 50 miles south of Montague Island. In the chaos that ensued as the vessel was overcome by the waves, the crew was forced to abandon ship. Thomas was last seen wearing an orange Harvey survival suit, a standard piece of gear for fishermen in the treacherous Alaskan waters. In the aftermath of the sinking, a United States Coast Guard helicopter was dispatched to the scene on a rescue mission. The helicopter crew managed to locate a life raft carrying three of the Cape Chacon's crew members and successfully hoisted them to safety. Tragically, Thomas Banks was not among the survivors. Despite the successful rescue of his fellow crewmen, an extensive search for Thomas yielded no results. The unforgiving sea had claimed the fourth crewman, leaving behind a family and a community to mourn his loss. The case is an unfortunate reminder of the perils faced by those who make their living on the water, and though the events of that day are known, Thomas Banks remains lost to the sea.

Jun 19, 1987

Cordova

Alaska

Valdez–Cordova Census Area

No

911

Alaska State Troopers

Anchorage

Alaska

Anchorage Borough

99507

Malia Miller

Missing Persons Clearinghouse Manager

5700 East Tudor Road, Alaska

9072695511

State

Law Enforcement

AK17063504

1987-06-19

Alaska State Troopers

Blond/Strawberry

Blue

Blue

07/23/2026