On November 26, 1996, a 39-year-old fisherman from Ketchikan, Alaska, named William Tyler, began a sea journey that would become his last. He was aboard the fishing vessel Tamra Dawn, a 33-foot sea cucumber and urchin dive boat, when a distress call reported the vessel was sinking in the Clarence Strait. The location of the incident was approximately two miles from Point McCarty and about 20 miles southwest of Ketchikan, near Dall Head. The events of that day led to the disappearance of William Tyler and his two fellow crew members, Lee Spencer and Brian Spencer.
The circumstances surrounding the sinking of the Tamra Dawn remain shrouded in the mystery of the Alaskan waters. Authorities presumed that William and the Spencer brothers drowned in the incident. Despite search and rescue efforts, none of the three men were ever located. The Alaska State Troopers documented the case, and William Tyler, along with Lee and Brian Spencer, were officially listed as missing persons. William was described as a White/Caucasian male, 5'11' tall, weighing 180 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. He had a scar on his right thigh and another on his right leg. At the time of the vessel's sinking, it was believed he may have been wearing a dry suit.
The disappearance of the Tamra Dawn and its crew is a somber reminder of the perils faced by those who make their living on the sea. The case of William Tyler is one of many unresolved maritime losses in Alaska's history. Without the recovery of the vessel or the men, the exact details of what transpired on that November day are unknown. The official explanation remains that the Tamra Dawn was lost at sea, and William Tyler, along with his companions, vanished into the depths of the Clarence Strait, leaving behind unanswered questions for their families and community. The incident is a tragic and unresolved case of men lost to the unforgiving nature of the sea.
Last Seen: Nov 26, 1996
