An investigation continues for an Alaska pilot who waited for hours in an icy lake for rescue on the wing with two young family members for possible misuse of his student license.

A pilot and his two young daughters survived on the wing of a plane for about 12 hours after it crashed and was partially submerged in an icy Alaska lake, then were rescued after being spotted by a good Samaritan.

The three people - including two young children - survived by clinging onto the side of the Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser light aircraft after it plunged into the freezing waters.