CHUATHBALUK, Alaska — An Aniak man was killed in a plane crash on Tuesday night, according to Alaska State Troopers.
61-year-old Stephen Hill was the sole occupant and owner of an Inland Aviation Cessna 207 that departed Aniak for Chuathbaluk around 7:05 p.m. Tuesday.
Troopers say a significant snow squall commenced during the evening when runway lights were activated in Chuathbaluk and Hill's plane did not arrive.
Residents of Chuathbaluk reported hearing a plane stall near the village, but its location was unknown. At 9:15 p.m. Tuesday, volunteer searchers from Aniak and Chuathbaluk along with Alaska State Troopers and Alaska Wildlife Troopers searched the Chuathbaluk area.
Search teams found the plane crash site several hours later around 1:45 a.m. Wednesday morning about 3 miles southwest of the village in a heavily forested area.
