Two perish in aircraft mishap

At approximately 1141 hrs. on February 4, 2021 the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center (RCC) was notified of a plane crash outside of Chitina near the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park after an Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) was activated belonging to a Cessna 185. It is believed that two people were on board the plane at the time of the crash.

The Alaska Rescue Coordination Center responded to the remote crash site and located the aircraft and found no survivors. The crash site was located approximately 13 miles Northeast of Chitina, in a wooded area on a gradual slope.

On 02/05/2021 at approximately 1200 hours, AST and NPS personal located the crash site. The scene was documented and a landing zone was constructed. Due to fading daylight the extraction was postponed until the following morning. 

On 02/06/2021 at approximately 1200 hours, Alaska State Troopers and National Park Services Rangers returned to the crash site and successfully extricated the bodies from the fuselage. All personnel and equipment are out of the field. The bodies are being transported to the SME for positive identification. NTSB will be responding to the crash site to investigate the cause of the crash. Condolences to the families of the deceased.