Private plane crashes on Gravina Island in Ketchikan

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Thursday, July 11th, 2019 6:16pm

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Ketchikan, Alaska (KINY) - One person is deceased after a private plane crashed on the south end of Gravina Island on land near Blank Inlet.

Alaska State Troopers identified the pilot as Michael Nash, 68, of Wrangell.  The plane was a PA-24 single engine wheeled Comanche aircraft.

The pilot was the only person on board the airplane.

A search and rescue effort was launched Thursday afternoon after the airplane was reported overdue.

Searchers located the plane this evening. The U.S. Coast Guard, Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad and Alaska State Troopers participated in the search effort.

The plane was reported overdue by the Ketchikan Airport at 3:04 p.m. The last communication with the plane was around 2:30 p.m. The plane was near Blank Inlet at that time.

The Coast Guard sent out small boats from Station Ketchikan, and a search and rescue helicopter from Air Station Sitka. Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad also took part in the searcg.

This is the fourth plane crash in the Ketchikan area this summer.

The National Transportation Safety Board is slated to be on scene Friday.

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