Severe weather and rising water prompted 57-year-old James Stocker to contact the Alaska State Troopers by Sat phone on Thursday.

Palmer resident James Stocker called in to the troopers at 8:32 pm on Thursday requesting rescue for himself, his wife, 49-year-old Beverly, and 55-year-old friend, Paul Woodward, from a gravel bar on the Talkeetna River.

Stocker told troopers that another pilot and himself had landed their aircraft on a sandbar on the Talkeetna RIver near Yellow Jacket Creek on Thursday but severe weather and the rapidly rising water level in the river prohibited them from taking off again.

The troopers were informed that the group had no floatation devices and were unable to make it to the riverbank. Stocker informed the troopers that the water level had reached the aircraft.

Despite having GPS coordinates, Alaska’s Air National Guard’s initial attempts at rescue were aborted due to the severe weather conditions.

It wasn’t until the next morning, at 6:20 am on Friday, that Alaska State Troopr’s Helo-1 was able to make it to the area and recover the three stranded aviators.

The three individuals declined any medical treatment.

The two pilots, Stocker and Woodward said that they would attempt to recover their aircraft when weather and conditions improve.