Family asks for help finding site of historic plane crash in Alberta's northwest

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“The 39th year anniversary is coming on the 29th of April and we still have no idea of what happened that day so many years ago.”

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Families still seeking closure are asking for the public’s help in finding a plane that went missing 39 years ago.

“After 39 years of (Ricky Allan Gascon) being missing, I still think about my husband Rick a lot — especially this time of year as the 39th year anniversary is coming on the 29th of April and we still have no idea of what happened that day so many years ago,” said Laural Gascon, in a news release issued by the Fox Creek RCMP.

“I hope with people in the back country hiking quadding, forestry, etc, that we will find the crash site in my life time so that our children will have me here to help them through what is going to be a difficult time.”

On April 29, 1982, Fox Creek RCMP received a report that a Cessna 185 plane hadn’t returned from its flight. It was believed to have crashed and the five people on board were reported missing.

RCMP believe the plane was traveling somewhere between Fox Creek and Prince George, British Columbia, when it crashed. No one knows exactly why. RCMP asked residents to keep an eye out.

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The plane is described as a white Cessna 185 with orange trim and engine number 572811.

RCMP investigated the circumstances surrounding the plane crash at the time and decided there may have been a fuel tank issue prior to take off. Foul play was never suspected, police said in the news release.

Ricky Allan Gascon, Larry Ernest Anderson, George Henry Maurer, Bevan Darryl Trottier and Brian Lawrence Trottier were the five people on the flight. They remain listed as missing persons.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Fox Creek RCMP at 780-622-3740. Fox Creek is located about 262 kilometres northwest of Edmonton.

duscook@postmedia.com

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