Update 11:20am-
Regal Air has identified the pilot of the Cessna 206 crashed in Lake Clark National Preserve as Joel Black of Ohio.
Update 9:00am-
Alaska State Troopers and National Park Rangers were able to land at the crash site last night and recover the body of the pilot, which was flown to the Medical Examiner’s office in Anchorage.
Original Story-
A pilot is presumed dead after a downed aircraft was found burning Thursday in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve.
Park spokeswoman Megan Richotte tells The Associated Press that Alaska State Troopers and park rangers are en route to the crash scene and expect to recover the pilot’s body.
Park officials were notified that a plane’s emergency locator went off in the Miller Creek drainage within the national preserve Thursday morning. Park rangers flew to the site, but could not land. Troopers were bringing a helicopter in for the recovery effort.
Regal Aviation reports the pilot was the only person aboard the Cessna 206 airplane.
The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash, located about 160 miles southwest of Anchorage.
