A pilot who survived a plane crash in Alaska along with his family has spoken out about his terrifying ordeal.
Josh Smith, his 72-year-old father-in-law John White, and his 12-year-old daughter Danielle had been on the Cessna aircraft.
On Sunday, Josh took off from the Lake Hood Airport and was on his way back home to Kenai,KTVA reported.
He explained to the station in an interview: 'Made a little side trip to enjoy the beauty of the mountains there.
'Up at the top, top of the ridge there, just got a little beyond what I could do with the airplane and got stuck.'
A pilot who survived a plane crash in Alaska along with his family has spoken out. On a ridgeline landing strip, there was too-deep snow and the plane flipped as it stopped
On a ridgeline landing strip, there was too-deep snow and the plane flipped as it stopped, the TV station reported.
Josh explained: 'We had food and just the bare minimum to stay warm.
'We were able to get a fire going and get that established, and then put it out so if we needed it again we could get it fired right back up.
'We stayed inside the airplane to stay warm, just huddled up in our sleeping bags, and took turns rotating around to share heat.'
Danielle made no complaints, he said, revealing that 'she did mention that maybe going on the scenic side trip was not a great idea, which she was right'.
According to Smith, 'We had food and just the bare minimum to stay warm'
Josh's wife Melissa Smith also spoke to KTVA.
She recalled: 'I got a report that they moved to the other side of the inlet to start looking, and it just felt like they were chasing a ghost.'
The family was rescued 24 hours after the scary crash, the U.S. Coast Guard said.
It said Tuesday in a news release: 'A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew located and rescued three survivors of a plane crash from a ridgeline landing strip in the vicinity of the Chakachatna River, in the Kenai Peninsula Borough, Monday evening.'
The family was rescued 24 hours after the scary incident, according the U.S. Coast Guard
The U.S. Coast Guard Alaska Facebook page said: 'The Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson JBER (official) Alaska Rescue Coordination Center in Anchorage requested assistance from the Coast Guard Monday afternoon.
'After the aircrew was directed into the area by the plane's emergency locater transmitter, one of the survivors fired a flare to attract their attention.'
The Jayhawk helicopter spotted the flare that Josh had fired, according to the US Coast Guard.
Melissa recalled to KTVA: 'My mom called me and she's just screaming and I can't understand a single word she's saying and so I'm kind of like panicking, like, "Is this a happy call or are you like terrified?"'
'I'm finally, "Are you happy or sad, mom? Happy or sad?" She's like, "Happy!" I'm like, "OK."'
The family, who had been on a Cessna 180, is pictured with the Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60T Jayhawk crew who rescued them
The U.S. Coast Guard said: 'The Jayhawk crew landed, brought the three survivors aboard and transported them to awaiting emergency medical personnel at Anchorage International Airport. Both passengers and the pilot reported no injuries.'
Josh recalled to KTVA: 'It was a flight that I'll remember for the rest of my life.
'And the sight of those Coasties coming up over the hillside is one I'll never forget. Thank you guys.'
He and his wife have six children, according to the news outlet.
Josh said: 'God is good and he has worked through some amazing community in this situation to spare us and show us some mercy.'
The pilot also revealed to the TV station they're planning to get an emergency transmitter which could give an exact location, and he'll file more specific flight plans in the future.
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