“Kirk to Cordova; Kirk to Cordova; come in Cordova,” radioed the pilot of the small plane flying toward the town of Cordova, Alaska.
“Cordova to Kirk,” came the reply from the radio operator Kelly Anderson. “Where have you been, Kirk?” he asked. “You should have been here an hour ago. Any trouble?”
“We had to go around a storm near Teakle Canyon. The wings are icing up pretty bad, but I’ll make it,” answered Kirk. “I’ll be there in about ten minutes.”
“I’ll be listening for you. It’s overcast here, but there is a high ceiling,” Kelly advised.
Flying planes in Alaska is a dangerous job, but Kirk Peters was one of their best pilots. Many times he had been able to do almost the impossible. Icing up of the wings was no major problem to Kirk who had flown in all kinds of severe weather in his years of flying. Even Kelly was not worried as he finished logging in the call. Putting on his coat, he leisurely walked out of the radio room into the hanger.
After talking briefly to one of the mechanics, Kelly left the hanger and went outside to listen for the drone of the single-engine plane.
Scanning the overcast sky for a glimpse of the bright orange and white plane, he glanced at his watch and saw that it was already 20 minutes since Kirk had called.
After watching and listening for another ten minutes, Kelly hurried back to the radio and called Kirk.
“Cordova to Kirk; Cordova to Kirk; come in Kirk.”
Not a sound broke the stillness except the click of the earphones.
“Cordova to Kirk; come in Kirk.” This time urgency and anxiety were in his voice. No answer came from the overdue plane. Although concerned, Kelly still was not terribly worried. Kirk was such a good pilot that he could land almost anywhere. He reported the plane as missing, but assured others that he was sure Kirk was okay. He had probably landed someplace, and his radio wasn’t working.
The Cordova Daily Times carried the headline the next morning: “PLANE DOWN BETWEEN TEAKLE AND CORDOVA.” Search planes were sent out, and the area was thoroughly searched. It was one of these planes searching the Orca Inlet that spotted the oil slick. The plane was found in about 30 feet of water with Kirk still strapped in the seat. Just two minutes more... and he would have landed safely at the air strip. Two minutes more... almost... but lost!
Even though the wings were icing up, Kirk evidently decided not to make an emergency landing. He had confidence that he would make it.
Perhaps you, too, think that you have plenty of time to accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour. You are confident you will make it. Be careful... you may come up short. If you do not accept Him as Saviour for yourself while there is still time, you will be lost! Don’t let it be said of you, “Almost... but lost!” The Bible warns, “Boast not thyself of to-morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” Proverbs 27:11Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. (Proverbs 27:1).
ML-03/17/1985