Tara Wetzel Missing Person Case

Jan 01, 1970

Jan 01, 1970

Tara

Wetzel

11

White / Caucasian

Female

On a summer day, June 16, 1989, eleven-year-old Tara Lea Wetzel was a passenger on a plane flying from a bible camp in Port Alsworth, Alaska. The young girl, with brown hair and green eyes, was returning to Soldotna when the aircraft tragically ran out of fuel and crashed into the waters of the Cook Inlet. At the time of her disappearance, Tara stood at approximately 4 feet 10 inches tall and weighed around 100 pounds. She had braces on her upper teeth, pierced ears, and scars on her abdomen and one of her knees. Tara was last seen wearing a red and purple sweatshirt over a shirt that had either a Garfield or a flamingo on it, black stretch pants, and red, white, and black sneakers. She also wore glasses with tan plastic frames. The devastating crash also resulted in the disappearance of the three other people on board: Janelle Gerlitz, William Johnson, and Michele Green. In the aftermath of the incident, a search was conducted, and a few items from the plane were recovered from the water. However, despite the efforts of search and rescue teams, none of the passengers were ever found. The Alaska State Troopers have been handling the case for all four individuals. The circumstances surrounding the plane crash and the subsequent disappearance of Tara and the other passengers have left a lasting impact. The official consensus is that the plane ran out of fuel over the water, leading to the crash. All four individuals on board are presumed to be deceased. The case serves as a somber reminder of the unforgiving nature of the Alaskan wilderness and the profound loss experienced by the families of those who vanished. This tragic event cut short the lives of four people, leaving their loved ones with unanswered questions and the enduring pain of their absence. The disappearance of Tara Wetzel is a story of a young life lost in a sudden and tragic accident, an event that also claimed the lives of three others and left a community in mourning.

Jun 16, 1989

Soldotna

Alaska

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07/19/2026