The family of a 51-year-old California pilot who died in a plane crash near Cordova earlier this month is heading back home with his possessions.
Michael Grimes, whose plane crashed near Kanak Island on June 18, leaves behind a wife of nearly 30 years and two daughters, according to a GoFundMe organized by Grimes’ sister.
Grimes’ wife Amber and his daughters Riley and Ryann traveled to Alaska recently to handle logistics following the accident, according to the GoFundMe. His wife flew home to Concord, California last week, and his daughters recovered Grimes’ truck and other possessions and are driving back down to the Lower 48.
Around 8 p.m. on June 18, Alaska State Troopers were notified of an overdue Piper Pacer aircraft believed to be en route from Yakutat to Fairbanks. Fleets from the Alaska Air National Guard and Alaska Wildlife Troopers immediately began searching for the plane, and found it around 40 miles southeast of Cordova around 4 p.m. the next day.
Officials recovered Grimes in the crashed aircraft, and transported his body back to Anchorage to the State Medical Examiner’s Office. The incident is still being investigated.
Alaska Department of Public Safety Communications Director Austin McDaniel declined to confirm whether or not Grimes’ remains were being transported to California, however his family posted that they should arrive at home this week.
For the majority of his life Grimes dreamed of being a pilot, according to reporting by Alaska News Source. When he wasn’t flying Grimes loved hunting, sailing, and mostly spending time with his family.
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