On February 11, 2017, the 98-foot crabber Destination disappeared in the Bering Sea about 4.4 nautical miles northwest of St. George Island, Alaska. The vessel sank without issuing a mayday; an emergency position-indicating radio beacon alert initiated the search. A debris field and oil sheen were found, but none of the six crew members — including 55-year-old Lawrence OGrady, Captain Jeff Hathaway, Charles Jones, Kai Hamik, Darrik Seibold, and Raymond Vincler — were recovered.

Searchers located the wreck in July 2017 on the seafloor at roughly 250 feet. The Coast Guard and NTSB investigated, interviewing nearly 50 people, reviewing weather and the vessel’s history, and using a remotely operated vehicle to examine the wreck. Investigators concluded a combination of factors likely caused capsizing: the captain’s decision to continue into heavy freezing spray that produced an estimated 340,000 pounds of ice buildup, crab pots heavier than accounted for in stability guidance, possible flooding through an open hatch, and a fatigued crew.

Did anyone who knew Lawrence OGrady or the Destination’s crew have observations about the vessel’s condition or the weather that morning?