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Subscribe to RSSANCHORAGE, Alaska - A small plane crashed near a mountain checkpoint along the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, killing all three people aboard, state officials said on Tuesday.
Searchers found wreckage of the plane, a Cessna 182, on Tuesday near the 4,000-foot level of Rainy Pass in the Alaska Range north of Anchorage.
Rainy Pass is one of the early checkpoints in the 1,000-mile Iditarod, which began in Anchorage on Saturday.
The search began late on Monday when the plane was reported missing, the Alaska National Guard said. It failed to reach its destination of Takotna, an Athabascan village that serves as a race checkpoint 176 miles beyond Rainy Pass.
Killed were pilot Ted Smith, 59, a retired Anchorage police officer, and passengers Carolyn Sorvoja, 48, and Rosemarie Sorvoja, 10, the Alaska State Troopers said. All were from Eagle River.
The plane and those aboard were not part of the "Iditarod Air Force," the group of volunteer pilots who ferry supplies and race officials to checkpoints and take dropped dogs back to Anchorage, said a race spokeswoman.
"All our pilots and all our folks are accounted for," Iditarod spokeswoman Erin McLarnon said.
But skies above the Iditarod Trail are typically busy during the race with numerous other small aircraft carrying spectators.
It was unclear whether the crash victims were following the Iditarod, said Megan Peters, a spokeswoman for the Alaska State Troopers said. She said the two females were mother and daughter.
The wreckage was found by an Air National Guard helicopter crew. The victims' bodies were recovered, and an investigation into the crash has been launched, Alaska National Guard officials said.
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May they all RIP
I spent 4 years as an aircrew member flying AWACS out of Anchorage. That state is a nightmare to fly in, take off in beautiful conditions and 5 minutes later you can be in a blizzard. My buddy is still up there doing Search and Rescues in the bush.
Since airplanes are the major mode of travel across Alaska and there are more airplanes than cars in that state, it is inevitable that some of them will crash, though it is unfortunate. Yes, Alaska is a dangerous place to fly, simply because of the terrain and constantly changing weather patterns. Even experienced pilots are affected occasionally -- and most Alaskan pilots are very experienced. Too bad for the loss of life.
Absolutely correct and accurate. Sounds like you have some first-hand experience.
I have nearly 7 years operating out of Bethel, Talkeetna, McGrath, Denali Park etc. without a scratch (knock wood!) but several of the guys that were there when I started are no longer with us today.
The risks are well known flying up there - as you already know - but so is driving, walking, running, biking, boating, swimming, skiing etc. etc. etc.
Flying in Alaska is especially difficult for small planes because it's hard for them to deal with air turbulence. Sick, injured and tired dogs who can no longer race in the Iditarod are transported in these small planes. The dogs are unsecured and are thrown all over when there's turbulence. FOR MORE FACTS: Sled Dog Action Coalition, http://www.helpsleddogs.org.
You're right about that, for sure. I flew dogs out of a couple of the mid-race checkpoints when I was up there during the '98 Iditarod and fortunately it was a smooth ride for them. They were in pretty bad shape too, at least that's how they looked to me, and a turbulent ride would have been seriously brutal for them.
IMO, that race is murderously hard on the dogs and shouldn't even happen, but there's moderately large amounts of money involved, so what are ya gonna do? But, from what I've heard, there are significantly more rigidly-enforced rules now regarding sled dog's health inspections at every checkpoint than there were when I was there, so there's that at least.
Can be brutal flying in the "Bush"
jpoochoo before you write something ignorant here I Lived in Alaska so STFU!
Same back atcha, prick. So did I.
poor poochy