Elias Pena Missing Person Case

Mar 17, 2020

Feb 14, 2024

Elias

Pena

59

29

66 inches

160 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

In the unforgiving waters of the Bering Sea, the story of Elias Pena and the crew of the F/V Pacesetter serves as a somber reminder of the perils faced by those who make their living from the sea. On January 27, 1996, Elias Pena, a 29-year-old man from Anchorage, Alaska, was aboard the 127-foot crab fishing vessel along with six other crewmen. The Pacesetter, a seasoned vessel in the Alaskan fishing fleet, was approximately 65 miles northwest of Saint George Island when it encountered treacherous weather. Amidst rough seas and high winds, the vessel capsized and sank, leaving no survivors and sending only an automated EPIRB distress signal as a final testament to its fate. The crew of the Pacesetter was a diverse group of experienced fishermen, each with their own stories and connections to the sea. Led by Captain Matthew Pope, the crew included Stephen Mack, Richard Anderson, Michael Kirk Ericson, Byron Koesterman, Elias Pena, and Stanley Eftestad. Pena, representing the varied backgrounds often found in Alaska's fishing communities, had joined the crew in pursuit of the challenging but rewarding life of a Bering Sea fisherman. The demanding work, characterized by long hours and arduous conditions, forged a strong bond among the crew members who relied on each other for their safety and success in the harsh marine environment. The sudden and silent disappearance of the Pacesetter sent shockwaves through the tight-knit fishing communities of Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. An immediate and extensive search and rescue operation was launched by the U.S. Coast Guard. Searchers scoured the frigid waters, but their efforts only yielded scattered debris, including two empty life rafts and a buoy bearing the vessel's name. No trace of the seven crew members was ever found. A subsequent investigation by the U.S. Coast Guard concluded that the probable cause of the sinking was a combination of the free surface effect in the forward hold, an overload of crab pots, and the severe weather conditions. The loss of the Pacesetter and its crew was a profound tragedy, underscoring the inherent dangers of one of the world's most hazardous professions and leaving an indelible mark on the families and communities who lost their loved ones to the unforgiving sea.

Jan 27, 1996

Dillingham

Alaska

Dillingham Census Area

No

77452

Alaska State Troopers

Anchorage

Alaska

Anchorage Borough

99507

Malia Miller

Missing Persons Clearinghouse Manager

5700 East Tudor Road, Alaska

9072695511

State

Law Enforcement

960006280

1996-01-28

Alaska State Troopers

na

Black

Brown

Brown

07/24/2026