Federal crash investigators traveled Tuesday to the scene of the crash of a plane on Friday close to Shaktoolik, which left Alaska aviation legend Jim Tweto and a passenger dead.
Alaska State Troopers said in an online announcement they found that Tweto, the 68-year-old, and 45-year old Shane Reynolds of Orofino, Idaho were on board the Cessna 180 which crashed about 35 miles to the northeast of Shaktoolik. Tweto was widely known for being the face for”Flying Wild Alaska,” a Discovery TV series “Flying Wild Alaska”” which follows the flight of the family-owned air company Era Alaska.
“The Cessna 180 aircraft was observed taking off but it did not climb and ended up crashed,” troopers said.
Troopers first learned of the crash shortly after noon on Friday, thanks to being alerted by an InReach satellite’s SOS signal. Nome troopers responded in order to find the bodies of the victims.
Clint Johnson, the National Transportation Safety Board’s Alaska chief, announced on Tuesday that the accident occurred when Tweto helped a hunting group to break camp. The group’s guide was able to see the Cessna slide down.
“My assumption is they operated from a ridgeline” Johnson said.
Johnson claimed that NTSB Investigator Millicent Hill was on a team of investigators who were heading to the scene on Nome Tuesday after the bad weather on the weekend prevented flights from making it to the site of the crash.
Investigators are also gathering data regarding Friday’s weather in the region, Johnson said, and will thoroughly investigate the Cessna to determine if there are any mechanical problems.
“Hopefully at the time the day is over we’ll be finished with the initial phase,” Johnson said. “And the next step is to begin the process of restoring the wreckage which is likely taking a more time.”
The NTSB generally releases preliminary reports about fatal Alaska accidents within a few weeks, with the formal determination of their causes typically lasting approximately an entire year.
Johnson claimed he’d spoken with Tweto at several times during the course of production for “Alaska Aircrash Investigations,” a Smithsonian Channel series that focuses on a variety of notable NTSB cases throughout the state.
“Jim was a hero for us in the state as a prosperous businessman, a very successful pilot, and will cause a major space in the aviation industry in the state,” Johnson said. “We’re regretful to witness this happen.”
The GoFundMe page was created to help Reynolds who is a guide to fishing and hunting who had an ex-wife and a child in Idaho.
