FAIRBANKS, Alaska — The two people who were killed in a plane crash near Fairbanks Wednesday night have been identified by Alaska State Troopers.
AST spokesperson Megan Peters says recovery efforts continue Thursday for the remains of 64-year-old pilot Stephen Knight and 60-year-old passenger Gillian Knight, both of Queensland, Australia.
National Transportation Safety Board investigator Clint Johnson said a Piper Saratoga PA32R 301, was en route from Fort Yukon to Fairbanks shortly before 5 p.m. and disappeared from radar.
The six-seat, single engine plane was registered to LNP Saratoga Inc in Palo Alto, CA. The owner, Lee Price said the plane has been leased to the West Valley Flying Club, also out of Palo Alto, CA, for many years. Price says the flying club would rent the plane out to aviators to fly all over the country.
Price said he believes the plane was rented out at the time to an Australian couple. He says they had left Palo Alto more than a week ago to fly through Canada, Alaska and then back to the Lower 48.
