A U.S. Coast Guard plane has located airplane wreckage in the search for a plane that went missing on its way to Ketchikan, but has not positively identified the wreckage as the missing aircraft. Authorities located the crash at around 8pm on Monday.
The Alaska Wildlife Troopers were notified by the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center (RCC) on Sunday around noon of an overdue aircraft that departed the Glennallen area at approximately 8:50 am, enroute to Ketchikan. The overdue aircraft, a Beechcraft Bonanza, was believed to have two people aboard.
At the time, it was reported that the last known communication with the aircraft was approximately 18 miles inland of Cape Yakataga. The RCC is managing search efforts currently. An Alaska Air National Guard HC-130 launched Monday into search the area. Poor weather prevented other aviation assets from searching the area. Troopers contacted next of kin for the two occupants advising them of the overdue aircraft.
The RCC, along with the US Coast Guard, and Wrangell St. Elias National Park are coordinating an operation at the remote location to identify the wreckage, and determine if there are any survivors.
The NTSB has been notified.
Search efforts are ongoing.
