A Bell 206 LongRanger helicopter and a de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver collided in midair on Monday September 4, while flying within Katmai National Park & Preserve north of Lake Colville near the American Creek drainage.
No major injuries were reported from the pilot or five passengers aboard the Beaver. The pilot of the LongRanger was forced to make and emergency landing.
“They were in the air, they were both under power, and they came into contact and they both had to make emergency landings,” said Superintendent Katmai National Park & Preserve, Mark Sturm.
According to Sturm, the de Havilland DHC-2 was able to make an emergency landing on a nearby water source.
Both the pilot and passenger of the Helicopter received minor injuries. Although the pilot was able to walk away from the crash site, he was evacuated to King Salmon, and then transported to Anchorage for medical assessment.
Plans to recover aircrafts are ongoing. An investigation will be conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
