News Release

Plane Crash in Katmai National Preserve

You are viewing ARCHIVED content

This content was published online before January 20, 2025. Please note that this content is NOT UPDATED, and links may not work. For current information, visit https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/news/index.htm.

News Release Date: September 26, 2018
Contact: Jason Lux, 907-246-2127

Katmai National Park & Preserve, King Salmon, AK – On Sunday, September 23, 2018 at approximately 5:57 p.m., Katmai National Park Rangers were notified of an emergency locator transmitter activation at the mouth of Moraine Creek at Kukaklek Lake in the Preserve. Coast Guard and the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center were also notified and began coordinating a response.  

The de Havilland Beaver carrying six passengers was attempting a step taxi maneuver down the river when it crashed into the bank. Wind and sandbars in the river were likely contributing factors. 

Emergency response was declined soon after when another airplane that observed the incident was able to land and evaluate the passengers. All passengers were able to safely exit the airplane and were transported back to the lodge with only minor injuries reported.  

The names of the company, pilot and passengers have not been released. 
 

- NPS -

RSS Feed | What is RSS?