Pilot and co-pilot feared dead, after their single-engine aircraft crashes outside the town of Bethel, 400 miles west of Anchorage.

Modified Date: 
Wed, 09/24/2014 - 11:29am
Accident Date: 
Monday, April 7, 2014

Troopers name 2 men killed in Alaska plane crash.

Alaska State Troopers say the remains of two pilots have been found in the wreckage of a small commercial plane that crashed near a southwest Alaska town.

No Survivors Found in Hageland Aviation Crash near Bethel.

Alaska State Troopers are investigating the crash of a Hageland Aviation small plane near Bethel Tuesday night, according to company officials.

Alaska State Troopers are investigating the crash of a Hageland Aviation small plane near Bethel Tuesday night, according to company officials.

The situation remains uncertain as of 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, with a AST spokesperson saying both troopers and officials with the Ravn Air Group, which Hageland is a part of, are trying to learn more.

“We have not confirmed any fatalities, but we have not found any survivors,” the spokesperson said. “They’re still trying to notify their people, and we’re still trying to notify next of kin.”

According to Ravn Alaska's marketing director, Steve Smith, the Cessna Caravan was not being used for passenger service at the time of the crash.

"At approximately 6:30 p.m. (Tuesday) a Cessna 208 operated by Hageland Aviation crashed near Bethel, Alaska," Smith wrote. "The flight was a training flight with two pilots on board and no passengers."

National Transportation Safety Board investigator Clint Johnson says it’s not clear when the Cessna 208 crashed, but responders are en route to the crash site.

“There appears to have been a post-crash fire,” Johnson said.

Peters says the plane was reported overdue to troopers as of 6:10 p.m., with responders taking a helicopter to the crash site in the vicinity of Three Step Mountain Tuesday night.

"Within the hour a local pilot reported to troopers that they had spotted a burning wreckage outside of Bethel," Peters wrote. "An Army (National) Guard Blackhawk with troopers and local fire personnel responded and found a wreckage."

Another Hageland Aviation Cessna 208 crashed during a passenger flight near St. Mary’s on Nov. 29, killing four people and injuring six others. The NTSB is still investigating that crash, but said in a preliminary report in December that witnesses were concerned about the plane before it crashed, with radio attempts to contact the pilot unsuccessful.

Hageland, along with Era Aviation and Frontier Flying Service, was part of a January rebranding effort in which the three entities planned to do business under the Ravn Alaska name. Era’s CEO, Bob Hajdukovich, denied at the time that the new name had any connection with the St. Mary’s crash.

Johnson says investigator Chris Shaver is leaving for Bethel Tuesday and will hopefully reach the scene “first thing in the morning."

According to Smith, Ravn is working with officials to investigate the crash.

"Hageland is gathering information and cooperating with local, state and federal authorities," Smith wrote. "More information will be provided as it becomes available."

UPDATE: The Pilot and Co-pilot have been identified as Derrick Cedars, 42, and Greggory McGee, 46. Both were killed in the crash.

People Involved: 
Derrick Cedars
Greggory McGee
Roadway: 
Bethel Airport
City: 
Bethel, AK

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