The following statement was issuued by the National Transportation Safety Board on Tuesday morning:

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NTSB LAUNCHES TEAM TO INVESTIGATE AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT IN ALASKA

The National Transportation Safety Board has launched a Go Team to investigate last night's airplane crash near Dillingham, Alaska.

At about 8:00 p.m. Alaska Daylight Time, a DeHavilland DHC-3T (N455A) crashed 10 miles northwest of Aleknagik, Alaska. Reports are that 5 of the 9 persons on board died in the accident.

Senior air safety investigator Clint Johnson, from the NTSB's Anchorage regional office, will serve as Investigator-in-Charge. He will be assisted by investigators from the Alaska office and from NTSB headquarters in Washington, D.C.

NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman is accompanying the team and will serve as spokesperson for the on-scene investigation. Terry Williams is the NTSB press officer