Alaska Air National Guard responded to 3 plane crashes in ‘very busy’ weekend

Alaska Air National Guardsmen utilized an HH-60G Pave Hawk’s hoist system, seen present during a June workout astatine Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, to rescue 2 injured group from a Friday, Aug. 30, 2024 level clang adjacent Tok. (From Alaska National Guard)

Search and rescue unit pinch nan Alaska Air National Guard are still catching up aft a agelong vacation play that included 3 level crashes, 1 of which claimed nan life of an Anchorage aviator and hunting guide.

Cary Foster’s Piper PA-18 Super Cub went down Saturday astatine a distant tract astir 60 miles southbound of McGrath. The National Transportation Safety Board has begun looking into nan clang according to its Alaska chief, Clint Johnson.

Alaska Air National Guard unit flew Pave Hawks for 5 missions it carried retired complete nan agelong Labor Day weekend. (From Alaska National Guard)

“On Sunday, we launched NTSB interrogator Stacia Joyce on pinch nan Alaska State Troopers and 1 of their helicopters,” Johnson said.

Johnson said that Joyce documented nan clang scene. And nan agency is now preparing to retrieve nan wrecked Super Cub to look for clues to what caused it to crash.

“So we’re moving pinch nan family and besides nan family’s security institution to beryllium capable to get that wreckage disconnected of nan upland wherever it is correct now, get it backmost to Wasilla, truthful we tin person a chance to return a look astatine that wreckage,” he said Tuesday.

Johnson hopes to retrieve nan wrecked level successful nan coming days, while nan agency follows up connected investigating nan different crashes.

“Obviously, opening of hunting play — this is simply a very engaged clip for nan Alaska NTSB,” he said.

It besides was a engaged play for the Guard’s 176th Wing and its Rescue Coordination Center. Both run retired of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson successful Anchorage.

“We rescued 8 individuals from 5 different missions, and nan missions were each complete nan place,” said 176th Wing spokesperson Dave Bedard. He said 1 of those missions was to retrieve Foster’s assemblage and bring it backmost for an autopsy.

He added that nan aviator of nan HH-60 Pavehawk chopper noticed a stranded huntsman astir 12 miles from nan fatal clang site.

“The Pave Hawk transported some to JBER,” he said. “The remains were released to nan authorities aesculapian examiner, and nan subsister was released.”

Long play started pinch 2 level crashes

The 176th’s agelong play began Friday, erstwhile it responded to 2 level crashes. The first was successful Skwentna, astir 70 miles northwest of Anchorage. There were nary injuries reported, and rescuers picked up nan aviator and brought him backmost to Anchorage.

Bedard said nan 2nd mission, for a level clang astir 50 miles southwest of Tok, was overmuch much complicated.

“This one, astir apt because of terrain, included a hoist,” he said.

Two group were injured successful that clang erstwhile Alaska State Troopers opportunity their level went down successful a mountainous area adjacent Slana, disconnected nan Tok Cutoff. Bedard said nan terrain required rescuers to hoist them up into nan chopper from nan crushed utilizing a cable.

A troopers spokesperson said nan aviator wasn’t severely hurt, but nan rider suffered superior injuries. The spokesperson declined to place nan victims. Bedard said they were transported to hospitals successful Anchorage.

“One diligent was taken to Providence, and nan different was taken to nan JBER hospital,” he said.

Johnson said nan craft nan 2 were flying successful was a Cessna 150.

“Obviously, superior injuries. We don’t person a full batch of accusation correct now,” Johnson said. “We dream to beryllium capable to talk to nan aviator erstwhile his wellness allows.”

Bedard said nan 176th Wing besides conducted 3 different rescue missions complete nan weekend. On Sunday, Guardsmen rescued 2 stranded hikers successful a distant area of Denali National Park, and connected Monday they picked up 2 stranded hunters adjacent nan park.