On a cold Valentine's Day in 1991, 52-year-old Donald 'Don' Smith of Ketchikan, Alaska, became one of the many souls claimed by the treacherous Alaskan waters. A man with blue eyes and brown hair, standing at a height of six feet two inches, he was known to be a fisherman by trade. His vessel, the F/V Thunderbird, a 35-foot longline fishing boat, sank on February 14, 1991. The incident occurred in Chatham Strait, about one mile north of Cape Ommaney, a place known for its unpredictable and often perilous seas. Donald was reportedly wearing a dark or green nylon windbreaker and blue jeans at the time his boat went down. His disappearance serves as a somber reminder of the inherent dangers faced by those who make their living from the sea in the rugged coastal regions of Alaska.
The sinking of the F/V Thunderbird was a sudden and tragic event. On that February day, two people were aboard the vessel when it began to flood and ultimately sank in the frigid waters of the Chatham Strait. While one individual managed to survive the harrowing ordeal, Donald Smith was not as fortunate. An extensive search was launched in the wake of the sinking, but tragically, rescuers were unable to locate him. The unforgiving conditions of the Alaskan waters likely hampered search efforts, and despite the best attempts of those involved, no trace of Donald was ever found. He is presumed to have drowned in the incident.
The disappearance of Donald Smith is a story that highlights the harsh realities of life and work in Alaska's demanding maritime industry. The waters of the Last Frontier are as bountiful as they are dangerous, and for every successful voyage, there is the ever-present risk of tragedy. In 1991 alone, 35 fatalities were recorded in Alaska's commercial fishing industry, with the vast majority being due to drowning after a vessel capsized or sank. Donald Smith's case is a poignant example of these statistics, a personal story behind the numbers that speaks to a life lost to the sea. Although he is presumed to have drowned, his case officially remains that of a missing person, a lingering uncertainty for those who knew and loved him. The investigation into his disappearance is managed by the Alaska State Troopers, a continuing reminder of a life that was tragically cut short.
Last Seen: Feb 14, 1991
