Federal investigators expected at site of plane crash

  • Saturday, July 18, 2015 9:08pm
  • News

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Federal investigators were expected to arrive Saturday at the site of a plane crash in southeast Alaska that killed the pilot and injured four passengers.

Rescuers planned to try again to recover the body of pilot Fariah Peterson of Birmingham, Alabama, said Alaska State Troopers spokeswoman Beth Ipsen.

The Cessna 207, operated by Wings of Alaska, departed from Juneau and was headed to the community of Hoonah when it went down Friday afternoon.

Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board were expected to arrive at the site to look into what caused the single-engine aircraft to crash.

Bartlett Regional Hospital in Juneau said two passengers were airlifted to a Seattle trauma center. Sandra Herrera Lopez of Juneau was in serious condition, and Ernestine Hanlon-Abel of Hoonah was in critical condition.

Two others, Humberto Hernandez-Aponte of Juneau and Jose Vasquez of Puerto Rico, were admitted to the Juneau hospital and listed in stable condition.

Wings of Alaska flies scheduled passenger service to small southeast Alaska communities. Its services also include sightseeing trips and charters. Company executive vice president Tim Seiber said the flight involved was a scheduled flight.

The crash came less than a month after a sightseeing floatplane crashed in a mountainous area in southeast Alaska, killing all nine people on board.

The excursion was sold through the cruise company Holland America and operated by Ketchikan-based Promech Air.

More in News

A towering Lutz spruce, center, in the Chugach National Forest is about to be hoisted by a crane Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2015, for transport to the West Lawn of Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., to be the 2015 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service)
Tongass National Forest selected to provide 2024 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree

Eight to 10 candidate trees will be evaluated, with winner taking “whistlestop tour” to D.C.

A slash pile containing non-organic construction debris is seen at the Snug Harbor Slash Disposal site on Sept. 22, 2020, in Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Kenai Peninsula Borough Land Management)
Assembly OKs concrete lease in Cooper Landing

The vote came amid widespread community opposition to the agreement

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
Children hunt for Easter eggs during the Easter Eggstravaganza at Nikiski Community Recreation Center on Saturday.
Easter eggs, bunnies arrive on the Kenai Peninsula

There are plenty of opportunities to grab a photo with the Easter bunny or seek out some eggs

Flier for Bear Awareness and Electric Fencing Workshops. (Provided by Defenders of Wildlife)
Local workshops to focus on managing bear attractants, electric fencing

The series will run Monday through Friday, April 1-5, in Hope, Seward, Kenai, Soldotna and Homer

A person walks up the steps of the Alaska Capitol, Jan. 16, 2023, in Juneau, Alaska. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)
Some KPBSD schools could benefit from internet bill passed by House

If House Bill 193 becomes law, an additional six KPBSD schools would be eligible for the state’s grant program

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
A veterinarian with Greater Good Charities escorts dog Maggie into a free spay/neuter clinic at the Moose Pass Fire Station on Thursday.
Moose Pass rallies behind free spay and neuter clinic

The clinic was put on by Greater Good Charities Good Fix program

Signage marks the entrance to Nikiski Middle/High School on Monday, May 16, 2022, in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Nikiski student arrested after school shooting threats

The juvenile student faces charges of terroristic threatening

Armageddon waits to be shown at the Kenai Peninsula District 4-H Agriculture Expo on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Bjorkman farm tax relief bill clears Senate

The bill is now up for consideration in the House

Most Read