Map Shows Where Four Killed In Alaska Plane Crash
A Piper PA-24 aircraft was approaching Seldovia airport when it went down in Seldovia Slough near the shoreline.
Four people perished when a small aircraft crashed into waters near the rural Alaska town of Seldovia on Wednesday, August 26. This marks the state's second fatal plane accident within a week. The Piper PA-24-260, operated by Anchorage, was en route to Seldovia when it crashed into the Seldovia Slough, a shallow body of water near the town's airport.
The crash occurred at 1:18 p.m. local time, and the Alaska Department of Public Safety (DPS) was alerted immediately. A preliminary investigation revealed that the aircraft had departed Merrill Field Airport in Anchorage and was destined for Seldovia. The slough, where the crash took place, is a shallow area adjacent to Seldovia and the town's airport, and the aircraft sank approximately 15 feet below the surface.
The remote location makes the community accessible only by air or boat. Initially, rescue and recovery efforts were hindered by tidal conditions, necessitating a wait until the tide receded to access the submerged wreckage. Four adult bodies were recovered by 6:30 p.m., and the victims were pronounced dead at the scene. Their identities remain undisclosed pending positive identification and notification of next of kin.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has been informed of the crash and will lead the investigation into the cause. This incident follows another fatal aviation accident in western Alaska on August 20, where a Cessna 441 Conquest II operated by Security Aviation crashed near Cape Newenham, killing all eight people aboard.
The two crashes, while not believed to be related, have highlighted the importance of aviation safety in Alaska, where small aircraft are crucial for connecting remote communities.
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