The person at the center of this case
Sean Matthew Hayes
Missing Person · Open
5 years waiting · since 2021
Missing Person: Sean Matthew Hayes
Justice for Sean Matthew Hayes — the trail went cold in 2021, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
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vehicle
Lead #1Cessna 170 with tail number N9114A - why has the wreckage never been located in the designated search area?
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evidence
Lead #2What was the exact nature of the emergency that prompted the mayday call, and were there any mechanical issues with the aircraft?
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timeline
Lead #3The flight path from Ketchikan to Lake Havasu is extremely long - did the aircraft have sufficient fuel, and were there any intermediate stops planned?
Sean Matthew Hayes, a 38-year-old pilot, disappeared on January 26, 2021, while flying a Cessna 170 from Ketchikan, Alaska to Lake Havasu, Arizona. He broadcast a mayday call around 4:40 PM indicating the aircraft was going down in waters near Port Angeles, Washington. Despite extensive searches of the area, neither Hayes nor the aircraft has been recovered, leaving critical questions about the exact circumstances of the emergency and the location of the wreckage.
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More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
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location
Lead #4Why did the aircraft encounter an emergency near Port Angeles when flying from Alaska to Arizona - was the route unusual or were weather conditions a factor?
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clue
Lead #5Have any debris, wreckage, or personal effects from the aircraft ever washed ashore or been discovered in the waters near Port Angeles?
Have information about any of these leads?
Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
NamUs case MP78647. Missing person: Sean Matthew Hayes.
Last known contact: 2021-01-26 in Ketchikan, Ketchikan Gateway, AK. Circumstances: Sean was flying a Cessna 170 with tail # N9114A from Ketchikan to Lake Havasu, AZ.
He broadcasted a mayday call around 1640 saying he was going down in the waters near Port Angeles, Washington. Searches of the area were unsuccessful in locating him or the plane.
Demographics: 38 years, Male, White / Caucasian. Physical description: 5 ft 7 in, 160 lbs, hair: Brown, eyes: Brown.
Investigating agency: Alaska State Troopers | AK21008900 | 2021-01-26.
Timeline of Events
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2021-01-26
16:40Mayday call and aircraft emergency
Sean Matthew Hayes broadcasting mayday call in Cessna 170 (N9114A), reporting aircraft going down in waters near Port Angeles, Washington
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2021-01-26
Search operations initiated
Searches of the area near Port Angeles were conducted but unsuccessful in locating the aircraft or pilot
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:January 26, 2021 at 4:40 PM
Last Updated:September 27, 2026
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Phone: 9072695511
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Case Information
Incident:January 26, 2021 at 4:40 PM
Last Updated:September 27, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 9072695511
You can remain anonymous