Mark Anthony Schroeder was 17 when he traveled from Durban, South Africa, to Alaska in summer 2005 to help his stepfather build a cabin and to explore the wilderness. On July 7, 2005, he was a passenger on a float-equipped Maule M-7-235 operated by Glacier Air Adventures that crashed into Johnstone Lake, about 25 miles southeast of Seward. The impact heavily damaged the aircraft; all five people on board initially survived and exited the sinking plane.

The survivors tried to swim to a large nearby iceberg. Four people reached an iceberg and were later rescued and treated for minor injuries and exposure. Mark Schroeder, who was not wearing a personal flotation device, disappeared under the icy water and was not found despite immediate and subsequent searches. Johnstone Lake is estimated to be 600 to 800 feet deep with surface temperatures of 38 to 42 degrees Fahrenheit. The National Transportation Safety Board subsequently suggested the aircraft was overloaded.

Does anyone have information about Mark’s final hours on the lake or memories of him that could help complete the record?