Early this morning, a single-passenger airplane crashed outside of Nome, resulting in one casualty. Thomas Grainger of Wasilla has been identified as the deceased.
Around 5:40am Monday, Alaska State Troopers were informed of an overdue aircraft flying from Wasilla to Nome. Due to weather, a Cessna 172 plane with only the 28 year-old pilot onboard was unable to land in Nome.
According to Troopers, Grainger’s last communication was 10:30 p.m. last night, after which time it is suspected his aircraft went down. Nome search and rescue members located the downed plane at Hastings Creek, 10 miles east of Nome around 10am Monday morning.
Troopers arrived on scene and confirmed the deceased was the pilot. The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash as the cause is unknown at this time.
