Three people died when a small aircraft burned after a landing accident Monday night at the remote Dan Creek airstrip, about 15 to 20 miles east of McCarthy in Alaska, authorities said.
Rescue and investigation
Alaska State Troopers received the initial report at 9:36 p.m., according to a Department of Public Safety statement. Troopers reached the scene the following morning and located human remains in the wreckage. The remains were sent to the State Medical Examiner’s Office for identification.
The wrecked airplane was a Piper PA-22 operating on a noncommercial flight and carrying a pilot and two passengers, the Federal Aviation Administration said in an accident log. Investigators say the aircraft struck terrain and caught fire after banking to the left during the landing phase.
“The aircraft banked to the left during the landing phase, impacted terrain and burst into flames,”
Clint Johnson, chief of the National Transportation Safety Board’s Alaska regional office, told reporters the crash occurred during landing and that one or two witnesses observed the accident. He said the post-crash fire destroyed much of the airplane, complicating on-scene analysis.
What officials can confirm
- Time of report: 9:36 p.m. Monday
- Location: Dan Creek airstrip, roughly 15–20 miles east of McCarthy
- Aircraft: Piper PA-22, noncommercial flight
- Fatalities: three (pilot and two passengers)
- Investigating agencies: Alaska State Troopers, FAA, NTSB
An NTSB investigator flew to the scene Wednesday morning to begin a formal probe. The FAA accident log notes the aircraft’s maneuvering during landing but does not list where the flight originated or why the pilot was attempting to land at Dan Creek.
Local and statewide ramifications
The crash underscores aviation hazards across Alaska, where small aircraft are a frequent means of travel into remote villages, lodges and backcountry airstrips. Accidents in isolated terrain can be more deadly because of constrained emergency response options and the difficulties of post-crash access when wreckage is burned.
Authorities have not released the names of the victims pending notification of next of kin and the medical examiner’s identification. Troopers said the investigation is ongoing and urged anyone with information to contact the Alaska State Troopers.
| Agency | Role |
|---|---|
| Alaska State Troopers | Initial response, scene security, evidence collection |
| Federal Aviation Administration | Accident logging, aircraft record |
| National Transportation Safety Board | Accident investigation |
News Block will update this article as officials release additional findings and identifications.
