John Morris Sr. got the kind of phone call every grandparent dreads. His son, 38-year-old John Morris Jr., had brought his elementary-school-aged and middle-school-aged daughters on a sightseeing flight. They were all missing. The three had taken off from Soldotna Airport in Alaska aboard a Piper PA-12, and never returned. The final time Morris Jr.’s cellphone pinged a tower, it was over Tustumena Lake, tucked into the Kenai Mountains–80 miles southwest of Anchorage. This family’s terrifying plane crash story kept Alaska in suspense.

Kenai locals rally to the rescue

The Kenai community rallied to search for survivors. The Morrises’ family friend, Scott Holmes made a Facebook post to raise awareness. “My daughter told me there was 420 shares on my post…I‘m proud of the guys that stepped up and went out and helped out.”

In a state where one out of every 100 residents has a certification to pilot airplanes, there was no shortage of help. As local pilot Terry Godes flew through the mountains the next morning, he knew any survivors would be in rough shape. The plane crash victims would have “spent a very cold, long, dark, wet night out” in the elements of Alaska. But he kept searching.

“I looked down and I could see the ice over the lake that’s up there…at the toe of the glacier, and I could see kind of a dark spot.” He flew closer and realized the dark spot was a small airplane’s wing–partially submerged.

“When I first saw the wing up there, it broke my heart because I just—I know what happens when airplanes break through the ice.” What happens is that there are rarely survivors. But Godes circled down for a better look.

“I could see that there was three people on top of the wing…Fortunately they got out of the airplane in time either before it sank all the way or they got out through the skylights.”

Godes realized the ice was far too soft to land. He relayed the plane’s position, and the Alaskan National Guard launched a helicopter to rescue the crash survivors . Morris Jr., who had gotten wet escaping the plane, was suffering hypothermia. But the two girls had stayed dry and were reportedly in much better condition. All three were taken to the nearest hospital and are recovering. Telling the story on Good Morning America, Godes had tears in his eyes as he said, “It’s a miracle.”

How did a Piper PA-12 plane crash through an icy lake in Alaska?

As of this writing, it’s unclear what went wrong. Mark Ward of the NTSB is investigating the incident, but admits he has yet to interview John Morris Jr. “At this point, we don’t know whether he landed purposely or for an emergency procedure, and he’s not talking to us.”

The NTSB keeps track of all crashes to prevent repeat problems. Ward explained, “If it’s mechanical, then I need to get that aircraft, find out why it happened.”

Unfortunately, Morris Jr. may be in a bit of trouble. Ward added, “The FAA told me that he is a student pilot, he had no application in for a pilot’s license, and it appears he has a history of violating the no passenger rule.” But the important thing is that the family is safe. Grandfather John Morris Sr. said of the rescue, “I have air in my lungs again.”

You can see Godes’ interview in the video and footage of the plane crash embedded below: