08 December 2016

A Tough Week for Small Planes in Alaska

It's been awhile since I've had to report on plane crashes, here.


Former state Rep. Mike Kelly dies in plane crash near Fairbanks
Former Republican state Rep. Mike Kelly of Fairbanks died on Wednesday in a plane crash on Fort Wainwright outside of the Interior Alaska city.

Kelly was piloting the single-engine American Champion Citabria plane when it crashed on military property, 17 miles southeast of Fairbanks. The crash was first reported to troopers about 1:30 p.m. Wednesday. Kelly's death was first reported by the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.

Kelly was an older brother of Sen. Pete Kelly, the incoming Senate president from Fairbanks.

Alaska State Troopers said a military helicopter that was flying in the area around the time of the crash received a signal from the downed plane's emergency locator beacon and responded to the scene.

Clint Johnson, National Transportation Safety Board Alaska region chief, said the plane carried only the pilot. He said it was too soon to say Wednesday evening how the crash occurred. He said he did not yet know where the plane had taken off from and where it was headed.


Small plane missing with 4 aboard was headed to Anchorage

A search and rescue effort was underway Wednesday evening for an airplane that went missing between Port Alsworth and Anchorage with four people aboard.

The Piper PA-28 Cherokee left Port Alsworth, 165 miles southwest of Anchorage, around 10:30 a.m., said Alaska Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Edward Eagerton.

The plane was planning to fly through Lake Clark Pass and was scheduled to land at Anchorage's Merrill Field at noon.

Four people were on board.

5 comments:

Ed Bonderenka said...

Makes me rethink my desire to fly.
That, and I can't afford to.

Rev. Paul said...

We're in the same boat, Ed. When I was young & healthy enough to fly, I couldn't afford it. Now that I could, I shouldn't.

Ed Bonderenka said...

I'll fly in the next life.

Sandy Livesay said...

Rev. Paul,

Another plane crash, how terrible.
Scary flying planes in Alaska. Was the crash caused by weather?

Rev. Paul said...

Ed, I'm with you. We'll fly - or just appear - wherever we need to go. :)

Sandy, the article says it's not yet known.