Plane Crash

Staff Sgt. Jacob Gibson of the U.S. Air Force was awarded the Airman's medal on Monday, the highest honor for a non-combat airman, for his live-saving actions back in 2010, when he pulled 16-year-old Rachel Zientek out of a burning Cessna that had crashed just moments after takeoff from Merrill Field. "I just can't believe how far I've come and what's Jacob's done," said the now-18-year-old Rachel, who had attended Monday's award ceremony. Zientek was headed on a trip with the family she babysat for, when the plane crashed back in 2010.

A National Transportation Safety Board report says a pilot and his wife, who died when their plane crashed into a mountain near Juneau last summer, were likely flying through poor weather conditions, with improper navigation instruments, and may have been in a rush to catch another flight. Charles Luck, 77, and his wife, 51-year-old Liping Tang-Luck, were flying from Hoonah to Juneau on the morning of July 24 when their Cessna 182 slammed into a slope roughly six miles southeast of Juneau.

Alaska State Troopers say two men died Friday evening after their plane crashed while attempting to land near the Holitna River.  It happened about 5:30,  when troopers say the Super Cub's pilot, 42-year-old Richard Wilmarth of Red Devil, attempted to land on a private airstrip. His passenger, Sleetmute Tribal Administrator Kenneth Mellick, also died in the crash.  The 45-year-old was also an Alaska Power Association board member. Troopers say that the cause of the crash has not yet been determined and the investigation is ongoing.

Two people on board a plane that crashed on Knik Glacier were rescued by an Alaska Air National Guard helicopter crew Friday afternoon, according to Guard officials. No injuries were reported in the crash. Alaska ANG Staff Sgt. Karima Turner says the Federal Aviation Administration relayed an alert about the crash to the 11th Rescue Coordination Center, which dispatched a 210th Rescue Squadron HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter to the crash site. The helicopter was able to land on the glacier and safely pick up the plane's occupants, although the extent of their injuries wasn't determined until the Pave Hawk arrived.

A small plane crashed Monday evening while landing at an airstrip at Lake Hood in Anchorage. There were three people on board, the pilot and two passengers, and all three men walked away with only bumps and bruises. The incident happened shortly after 7:00 p.m. One of the passengers told Channel 2 News that the plane was coming back from a trip to the Kenai area. The pilot, who declined to give his name, said he was unaware there was unplowed snow on the airstrip. He said as the Cessna 182 touched-down, snow began to fly over the nose of the plane.

A commercial plane crash near Kwigillingok Wednesday morning left its pilot reporting minor injuries, according to Alaska State Troopers. Bethel troopers were alerted to the crash shortly after 11 a.m. Tribal police officers in Kwigillingok responded to the scene and contacted the Cessna 206's sole occupant, 44-year-old Blaze Highlander. He was transported to the local clinic for a medical evaluation. AST spokesperson Beth Ipsen says the aircraft belonged to Yute Air, a Bethel-based commercial carrier.

A plane crash Thursday near the village of Nanwalek which all four people on board survived is being investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board. Air safety investigator Chris Shaver says four people were on board the Cessna 206 which crashed into English Bay on takeoff about 100 feet from the shore. Shaver says all of the plane's occupants swam to safety. The NTSB says the flight was operated by Smokey Bay Air, a Homer-based carrier which specializes in flight-seeing, fishing excursions, bear-viewing, and charter flights around Kachemak Bay. Contact Ted Land at tland@ktuu.com

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.

A former mayor of Aniak died in a plane crash Tuesday night. The National Transportation Safety Board said 61-year-old Steve Hill was flying a Cessna 207 from Aniak to Chuathbaluk when his plane crashed. Hill was the co-owner of Inland Aviation Services and also served on the Aniak city council.  The NTSB said Hill took off, alone, from Aniak about 7:40 pm on Tuesday night. He was picking up a passenger in Chuathbaluk to take back to Aniak. When Hill failed to arrive at his destination Alaska State Troopers began a search for the missing pilot and found his wrecked plane about 2:40 am Wednesday morning.

A McGrath plane crash's survivors shared an amazing family story of survival and recovery Saturday at St. Elias Specialty Hospital's third annual patient reunion. Don and Rosemarie Evans, and their two children, were injured in the Aug. 13 plane crash near McGrath that killed Anvik educator Julie Walker and pilot Ernie Chase. The couple spent more than two months at St. Elias, undergoing treatment for severe injuries, including broken backs and limbs. They were released a few weeks ago. At the patient reunion, the Evans shared their story of recovery and reunited with those at St. Elias who helped them along the way. "They would do anything they could for us to see each other and the fact that we were able to be here together and heal together made that process even that much better for us," said Rosemarie Evans.