Russian Mission, AK — There are no survivors after a mid-air plane collision Wednesday morning, six miles west of Russian Mission.
Alaska State Troopers in Bethel were notified of a crash at 11:08 A.M. on Wednesday. Medics, an Alaska State Trooper helicopter, and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) personnel from Anchorage responded to the scene.
Alaska State Trooper Public Information Officer Megan Peters says Troopers will be joining NTSB investigators at the crash site. “They will be focusing on recovering the victims, while NTSB will focus on the investigation and the cause and circumstances of the collision.”
A RAVN C208 Caravan aircraft flying from Russian Mission to Marshall with three people on board, and a Renfro’s Alaska Adventure Super Cub carrying two people from Bethel to a hunting camp were involved in the crash.
Clint Johnson is the Alaskan Regional Chief for the Office of Aviation Safety. He says that “both airplanes came to rest about roughly half a mile (or) three quarters of a mile away from each other.” The NTSB is working with two accident sites. “The topography in the area makes it very, very challenging for not only the Alaska State Troopers but for our teams as well, so we are going to be there for a while. This will not be a one day job by any stretch of the imagination.”
Rescue personnel have confirmed five fatalities: two pilots, 48-year-old Harry Wrase of Wasilla and 44-year-old Zach Babat of Montana, as well as three passengers, 21-year-old Aaron Jay Minock of Russian Mission, 32-year-old Steven Andrew of Kenai, and 40-year-old Jeff Burruss of Haines.
As of eleven o’clock Thursday morning, NTSB is sending three investigators to the crash sites to determine the sequence of events and assist in recovering the five victims.
