No survivors in mid-air collision of 2 small planes in Alaska

Alaska State Troopers has confirmed that there were no survivors on either of the two small planes that collided mid-air over western Alaska on Wednesday.

Reports reaching here on Thursday quoted troopers as citing responders at the scene northwest of the village of Russian Mission, 375 miles, or 603 kilometers, west of Anchorage, that all five people on board the two planes were killed.

KTVA, an affiliate of Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS), reported that the victims have been identified, including three on a Cessna 208 Caravan operated by Hageland Aviation Services and two in a Piper PA-18 Super Cub operated by Renfro's Alaska Adventures.

The collision occurred just before 11 a.m. Wednesday about 60 miles, or 97 kilometers, north of Bethel, Alaska National Guard officials said.

Clint Johnson, the Alaska division head of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), said the crash scene, essentially of two sites, covers a large area that is accessible only by helicopter and two NTSB investigators flew on Wednesday afternoon on a trooper helicopter from Anchorage, the largest city in the state, to the location.

Midair crashes are usually technical and complex, Johnson told Alaska Dispatch News. Endit