Paul Kondrat,Col. Mark Tyson Sletten Obituary, – The Alaska Department of Public Safety announced on Thursday that the bodies of two men were discovered in a remote lake after their small plane crashed. One of the men was identified as Col. Mark “Tyson” Sletten, a 46-year-old Air Force colonel who served as the director of operations for the Alaskan Command.
The other man was identified as Paul Kondrat, a 41-year-old from Utah. The plane, which was on an instructional flight, crashed into Crescent Lake near Moose Pass on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula. Two hikers reported the crash to the Alaska Wildlife Troopers, prompting a search and rescue operation. Despite finding debris on the lake, no survivors were found. The Alaska Rescue Coordination Center, along with volunteers from the Alaska Dive, Search, Rescue, and Recovery Team, continued the search using sonar, remotely operated vehicles, and trained divers. Eventually, the plane was located in approximately 193 feet of water and brought to shore with the assistance of divers and a remotely operated vehicle.
The bodies were then transported to the State Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy. The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the cause of the crash. The Alaskan Command, based in Anchorage, is responsible for various defense and security missions as part of the U.S. Northern Command.
