Christopher Frank Bailey, 37, was aboard a Piper PA32 (tail number N8978) that departed Anchorage, Alaska, for McGrath on May 18, 1988. He was a white male, 6 feet 5 inches and about 210 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes, and went by Chris. Two other men, Jerry Melin and William Newman, were on the same flight.

The aircraft crashed on Mount Gerdine, west of Anchorage, with wreckage located at roughly 8,700 feet. The terrain at the crash site was described as extremely difficult and treacherous, preventing recovery of the occupants. Christopher Bailey, Melin and Newman were never recovered and the official circumstances indicate a tragic accident.

If anyone has memories of the flight, the passengers, or information about Mount Gerdine access in 1988, please share what is known.