Men who died in St. Mary’s crash were on a hunting trip, NTSB says

St. Mary’s, Alaska. (Thester11/ Wikimedia Commons)

Alaska State Troopers person released nan names of 4 group killed precocious Sunday erstwhile a level they were flying successful collapsed short of nan runway successful St. Mary’s.

Two of nan 4 men who died were Alaska residents and 2 lived retired of state, according to troopers.

The Alaskans who died were 34-year-old aviator and Chugiak resident Scott Grillion and 44-year-old Sterling resident Benjamin Sweeney. The out-of-state residents were 23-year-old Ohio resident Mario Gioiello and 25-year-old South Carolina resident Caleb Swortzel.

The Cessna 207 was owned and operated by Bethel-based aerial bearer Yute Commuter Service and was en way from Bethel to nan little Yukon River organization astatine nan clip of nan crash.

According to National Transportation Safety Board Alaska Chief Clint Johnson, nan formation wasn’t portion of nan company’s regular schedule.

“This was for their individual use. And we person been told that they were utilizing nan airplane to spell moose hunting successful St. Mary’s,” Johnson said.

In a statement posted connected societal media, nan institution said that nan plane’s aviator was employed by nan institution astatine nan clip of nan crash. The connection besides said that passengers connected nan formation included different existent Yute employee, a erstwhile worker and personification connected a individual trip.

Yute Commuter Service did not instantly respond to a petition for remark regarding nan backgrounds of nan group who died.

On Tuesday, Johnson said that an NTSB squad was en way to Bethel to walk nan nighttime earlier heading to nan clang site.

“First point successful nan morning, they’re going to motorboat up to St. Mary’s. They scheme to beryllium connected nan crushed location successful St. Mary’s, documenting nan mishap tract arsenic champion arsenic they tin for astir of nan day,” Johnson said.

Johnson said that location are still nary specifications disposable astir what whitethorn person caused nan fatal level crash, and that he expects a preliminary study sometime adjacent week.