A plane crash between McGrath and Anvik Saturday night took two lives and left a family stranded at the hillside crash site until the next day, when the National Guard could get aircraft in. Reported killed in the crash are pilot Ernie Chase, 66, of Aniak, and Julia Walker, 56, of Anvik. Survivors are Don and Rosemarie Evans, both 32, new teachers for the Iditarod School District, who were being flown in to Anvik, and their two children, Donnie and McKenzie, 10 and 8. Don Evans was reported in good condition, the other three in fair condition last night.
A flight out of McGrath the day before had been cancelled due to weather. The district had chartered the trip with Inland Aviation Services. Chase was a highly experienced and well known bush pilot.
Download Audio (MP3)
sheimel (at) alaskapublic (dot) org | 907.550.8454 | About Steve
