Overdue plane found crashed in Alaska mountains; pilot dead

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - A pilot was found dead Friday after search crews located an overdue small plane that had crashed in mountainous terrain southeast of Cordova, according to Alaska State Troopers.

The Piper Pacer aircraft left Cordova at approximately 10:30 a.m. Thursday.

Troopers said they were notified around 8 p.m. on the same day that an aircraft was overdue. The plane was believed to have been flying between Yakutat and Fairbanks, with only the pilot on board.

Aircraft from the Alaska Air National Guard and Alaska Wildlife Troopers were launched as part of the search. Around 4 p.m. Friday, a helicopter crew with the Alaska Air National Guard found the wreckage about 40 miles southeast of Cordova, near Kanak Island, troopers said.

The pilot was found dead inside the aircraft.

Troopers said the body was taken to the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Anchorage for an autopsy and positive identification. The pilot’s next of kin has been notified.

In an update Friday night, the NTSB said it monitored search and rescue efforts overnight and throughout the day before the wreckage was found Friday afternoon. The agency said it will now begin investigating the crash.

An NTSB investigator-in-charge has been assigned to the case and will travel to the remote crash site as soon as weather and logistics allow, according to the agency. The NTSB said the investigation remains in its early stage

This is a developing story.

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