On a spring day in May of 1999, 50-year-old David Mckenzie and his companion, Scott Croll, embarked on a flight from Haines to Juneau, Alaska. They were traveling in a distinctive red and white PA-24 Comanche aircraft, a single-engine plane known for its performance and use in general aviation. The journey was intended to be a relatively short, cross-country flight over the rugged and often unforgiving Alaskan coastal waters.
Mckenzie, a resident of Juneau, was aboard the aircraft with tail number N8694P when it disappeared from contact. The last reported position of the aircraft was in the area between Point Bridget and Mab Island, approximately 40 miles north of their destination in Juneau.
The circumstances surrounding the plane's disappearance point to a likely encounter with perilous weather. The flight was operating under visual flight rules but the weather conditions in the area of the presumed crash were instrument meteorological conditions, with reports of rain, snow showers, and clouds reaching down to the surface. It was noted that VFR flight was not recommended under these conditions. In what is believed to be one of the final communications, the pilot was heard over the common traffic advisory frequency indicating that he was turning the aircraft around to return to the departure airport of Haines. This transmission suggests a recognition of the deteriorating weather and an attempt to retreat from the hazardous conditions.
Following the aircraft becoming overdue, an extensive search and rescue operation was launched. The effort involved aircraft, surface vessels, and ground personnel who scoured the vast and challenging terrain where the plane was last reported. Despite these exhaustive efforts, the search was ultimately unsuccessful in locating any trace of the plane or its two occupants. The official search was suspended several days later, on May 6, 1999. The National Transportation Safety Board's final report on the incident determined the probable cause to be 'Undetermined,' due to the aircraft remaining missing. The disappearance of David Mckenzie and Scott Croll is a somber reminder of the inherent risks of aviation in Alaska's vast and wild landscape, where weather can change in an instant and the terrain can conceal secrets indefinitely. The case remains a painful mystery for the families involved, leaving them without answers as to the final moments of their loved ones.Last Seen: May 2, 1999
