Introduction to the Disappearance

On January 26, 2021, the aviation community was shaken by the disappearance of Sean M. Hayes, a 38-year-old pilot from Kodiak, Alaska. Hayes was flying his single-engine, four-seat 1949 Cessna 170A from Ketchikan, Alaska, to Port Angeles, Washington, when he vanished over the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Despite extensive search efforts, neither Hayes nor his aircraft were ever found, leaving a void of unanswered questions and a family in mourning.

The Fateful Flight

Hayes departed from Ketchikan midday on January 26, 2021, embarking on a journey that would cover approximately 530 nautical miles to Port Angeles. His plan was to refuel at William R. Fairchild International Airport before continuing to his final destination in Lake Havasu City, Arizona—a trip he had undertaken multiple times before. However, this flight would prove tragically different....Read More