Aviation

2 die in plane crash on Alaska's Kenai Peninsula

Update, 11:00 a.m. Sunday: Alaska State Troopers have identified two victims of a Saturday night plane crash on the Kenai Peninsula.

Troopers received several reports shortly after 8 p.m. that a plane had crashed on Cohoe Loop Road, which runs alongside the shores of Cook Inlet in Kasilof.

The men who died in the crash were pilot Brian Nolan, 69, and passenger Peter Lahndt, 57, troopers said in an online dispatch Sunday morning. Both men were from Kasilof, troopers said. Nolan was the owner of the Cessna 180 that crashed, according to Troopers.

The NTSB is investigating.

Original Story: At least one person was killed in the crash of a small plane Saturday night near Kasilof, Alaska State Troopers said.

Early reports didn't say if anyone other than the pilot was on board.

"It's not a survivable accident," said Clint Johnson, an investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board. "There was a post-crash fire."

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Troopers spokeswoman Beth Ipsen said the crash happened near South Coho Loop and Powder Keg Avenue. Troopers learned of the accident shortly after 8 p.m.

Troopers were on the scene late Saturday, and Johnson said an NTSB investigator was en route to the Kenai Peninsula.

"We believe it's a Cessna 180, but that needs to be confirmed," he said.

According to an NTSB database, this is the seventh fatal plane crash in Alaska so far this year; there were three fatal plane crashes and one fatal helicopter crash in 2014.

This is a developing story. Check back later for more updates.

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