It was June 8, 1983 and Reeve Aleutian Airways flight 8 was preparing to leave from Cold Bay Airport, Alaska. The Lockheed L-188 Electra was headed for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport with cargo and ten passengers onboard. The passengers were mostly hunters and anglers. Captain James Gibson was flying that day, along with first officer Gary Lintner and flight engineer Gerald 'Moose' Laurin. In the cabin were flight attendants Wendy Kroon and Victoria Fredenhagen.