In Alaska in August 2003, Shima Funakoshi, 30, and her mother, Yoshiko Funakoshi, 58, died in a cargo mail run. Visiting Alaska, the mother wanted to see her daughter at work for Hageland Aviation Services, but the twin-engine Reims Aviation 406 turboprop crashed into open waters 30 miles from Barrow.

Search teams reported seeing floating aircraft seats, cardboard boxes and small pieces of the aircraft's wreckage, but the plane was thought to have sunk in waters 50 to 70 feet deep.

NO CLOSURE

Nearly three years later, the bodies have not been recovered, and the NTSB could only say that the plane went down "while maneuvering for an undetermined reason." A safety board report noted that "a pilot who is familiar with geographical locations in the area reported that migrating whales are commonly sighted in the area where the radar depicted a descending right turn."

Family and friends remain frustrated by the lack of closure and believe the government should have done more.

"She was a good pilot," said Dora Wainwright, the pilot's former roommate.

Nami Funakoshi, the pilot's sister, said, "We don't have any answers ... and it makes us feel so bad."