Investigators are trying to determine what caused a flight from Fort Yukon to Fairbanks to suddenly go off radar and crash 40 miles north of its destination Wednesday night, killing the two people onboard.
The two people onboard were identified by troopers as pilot Stephen Knight, 64, and passenger Gillian Knight, 60, both of Queensland, Australia.
Alaska State Troopers spokeswoman Megan Peters says troopers have begun a recovery effort. Bad weather, including low clouds hampering helicopter flights, is delaying the operation.
National Transportation Safety Board spokesman Clint Johnson says the Piper Saratoga was en route from Fort Yukon to Fairbanks shortly before 5 p.m. Wednesday and disappeared from radar.
The airplane is registered to aircraft rental company LNP Saratoga Inc. of Palo Alto, Calif. Owner Lee Price tells KTUU-TV the plane had been leased to the West Valley Flying Club of Palo Alto.
Investigators from the NTSB are on the way to the crash site.
After the plane took off from Fort Yukon it requested permission to fly by instruments rather than visuals, something that's often done when the weather and visibility are poor, Johnson said.
The plane may have been flying with one or two other aircraft, he said.
Reported by the Associated Press and ADN reporter
Michelle Theriault Boots. mtheriault@adn.com or 257-4344.
