The incident came close to being marked by a second tragedy when a private search plane that first spotted the man crashed during the rescue. The pilot and passenger survived, according to troopers.
The ordeal began at about 5 p.m. Thursday when Gary Swanson, 44, walked away from his cabin in Bud Lake, about 9 miles west of Sheep Creek Lodge, troopers say.
Family members searched but couldn't find Swanson, who was reported missing to troopers the next morning, said spokeswoman Megan Peters.
Troopers joined the hunt but couldn't find Swanson on Friday either.
The search ended at about 9 a.m. Saturday, when a Super Cub carrying family friends spotted Swanson lying on his back in a swamp, troopers said.
It was unclear Saturday exactly where he was found.
The plane, piloted by 52-year-old Theodore Schachle of Willow, turned to make a low pass over Swanson when the aircraft stalled and crashed into trees, troopers said.
The pilot suffered facial injuries while his passenger, 51-year-old Craig Seime of Big Lake, escaped unhurt.
The pilot and passenger walked to Swanson, who they found alive but unconscious, troopers said.
Flight medics arrived a short time later and tried but failed to revive him, Peters said. She couldn't say exactly when medics arrived.
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