Yoshiko Funakoshi Missing Person Case

Dec 20, 2022

Dec 21, 2022

Yoshiko

Funakoshi

79

58

64 inches

130 lbs

Asian

Female

On a late summer day in August 2003, 58-year-old Yoshiko Funakoshi and her daughter, Shima Funakoshi, boarded a Cessna 406 Caravan airplane in Utqiagvik (formerly known as Barrow), Alaska. Their destination was the coastal village of Wainwright, a routine flight over the vast and often unforgiving Alaskan tundra. Shima, an experienced pilot, was at the controls of the aircraft, with her mother as her passenger. The flight, however, would tragically disappear, marking the beginning of a painful and unresolved mystery for their family and community. The journey from Barrow to Wainwright took a devastating turn when the aircraft, with tail number N6591L, vanished. An immediate and extensive search and rescue operation was launched in the challenging Arctic conditions. Search teams eventually discovered debris and an oil slick in the frigid waters of the Arctic Ocean, approximately 10 miles northeast of Wainwright. The water in this area reaches depths of around 75 feet. Despite the grim discovery of the crash site, the subsequent search efforts were met with immense difficulty due to the harsh environment. Despite the exhaustive search, neither Yoshiko nor her daughter Shima were ever recovered from the ocean. The lack of significant wreckage also made it impossible for investigators to determine the definitive cause of the crash. The case remains a painful open wound for their loved ones. In the years that followed, memorials were established to honor the lives of Yoshiko and Shima. In Anchorage, a bench dedicated to Shima, known as "Shima's View," was placed along the Coastal Trail, offering a place for reflection. Another memorial was erected in Utqiagvik, a testament to the lasting impact both women had on their communities in both Alaska and their native Japan. The disappearance of Yoshiko and Shima Funakoshi serves as a somber reminder of the perils of aviation in the Arctic and the profound sense of loss that endures when loved ones vanish without a trace.

Aug 17, 2003

Barrow

Alaska

North Slope Borough

No

122187

North Slope Borough Police Department

Barrow

Alaska

North Slope Borough

99723

1068 Kiogak Street, Alaska

9078526111

Local

Law Enforcement

http://www.north-slope.org/departments/police

030000765

2003-08-17

North Slope Borough Police Department

na

Black

Brown

Brown

07/08/2026