David Leigh Cobban, 30, was aboard the F/V Scandies Rose when the crab vessel capsized and sank in severe weather off Alaska on December 31, 2019. The ship left Kodiak for the Bering Sea’s winter crabbing season and encountered high winds, rough seas and freezing spray that caused heavy, asymmetrical ice buildup and a severe list before the vessel went down about 2.75 miles southeast of Sutwik Island. A mayday was sent around 10 p.m., and the U.S. Coast Guard mounted a large search in winds near 40 miles per hour and seas up to 20 feet.

Two crew members, Dean Gribble Jr. and John Lawler, were found alive in a life raft and rescued. An extensive search covering more than 1,400 square miles lasted over 20 hours before active searching was suspended. David Cobban, his father Gary Cobban Jr., and three other crew members were not found and are presumed to have died at sea. The NTSB later cited inaccurate stability guidance and heavy ice accumulation as probable causes of the capsizing.

If anyone has information about the Scandies Rose or its crew that could shed light on that night, please share it.