Several Californians Among Survivors, Victims Of Alaska Floatplane Crash
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (cbs/AP) -- Alaska authorities have released the hometowns of the seven men who survived Tuesday's deadly floatplane crash, as well as those of the three victims.
The plane carrying fishing guides and clients crashed Tuesday near a scenic lake in rural southwest Alaska, killing three clients from California and Pennsylvania and injuring all seven other people on board, some critically, authorities said.
The plane was taking off to head to a remote fishing spot in a river when it went down outside the tiny town of Iliamna, 175 miles southwest of Anchorage, National Transportation Safety Board Alaska Chief Clint Johnson said.
The aircraft -- a De Havilland DHC-3 Turbine Otter on floats -- belonged to an Iliamna fishing lodge. It ended up in some trees near Eastwind Lake, a mile north of town.
State troopers say the surviving pilot is 54-year-old John Furnia of Covington, New York.
The surviving passengers are 65-year-old Rodger C. Glaspey of Fresno, California; 62-year-old Robert J. Dingler of Fresno, California; 67-year-old David W. Wood of Westchester, Pennsylvania, 25-year-old Seth J. Hofland of Bountiful, Utah; 23-year-old Robert R. Westbrook of Cottage Grove, Oregon; and 27-year-old Justin L. Schillaci of Greenville, Pennsylvania
Furnia, Glaspey, Wood and Dingler were listed in good condition at Anchorage hospitals. Westbrook was listed in fair condition.
The other three men onboard died. They were 80-year-old Tony W. Degroot of Hanford, California; 70-year-old James P. Fletcher of Clovis, California; and 69-year-old James Specter of Shavertown, Pennsylvania.
Some of the seven injured were critically hurt, while two suffered minor injuries, Johnson said. Their names were not released.
Fletcher, Degroot and Specter were staying as clients at the Rainbow King Lodge, which owned the plane, Johnson said. Calls to the business went unanswered.
Johnson said two NTSB investigators were heading to Iliamna on Tuesday, with one arriving midafternoon. He noted it was "way too early for any speculation" on what caused the crash.
The picturesque Eastwind Lake is fairly small and regularly used for floatplane traffic, said Diana Armstrong, who works at a local trading post.
© Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
