Updated October 9, 2014 at 4:50 pm
Alaska State Troopers identified the pilot as Justin Chaput, 34, and the passenger as Eugene Chaput, 67, both of Juneau. Troopers said in an online dispatch on Thursday that the two reported flying a touch-and-go on a gravel bar when the plane hit a dip in the landing strip, causing the propeller to hit the ground and the plane to flip over.
Original story October 9, 2014 at 11:00 am
The U.S. Coast Guard picked up the pilot and passenger of a Cessna 180 after the aircraft made a rough landing in the Endicott River Wilderness on Wednesday night.
Chief Petty Officer Joshua Ryan, watchstander at the Coast Guard’s Command Center in Juneau, said an H-60 helicopter was dispatched from Sitka and located the downed aircraft in about 40 minutes. The Cessna was found in an area about 25 miles north of Gustavus or about 24 miles south of Haines. The unidentified pilot and passenger reportedly suffered minor injuries.
Ryan said the aircraft operated with tundra tires and it may have had a brake problem when it nosed over at landing. The amount of damage to the aircraft has not been determined.
According to a statement issued by Coast Guard on Thursday afternoon, the men were headed from Juneau to Yakutat but crashed after trying to land in the Endicott River valley. There was 10 mile visibility, clear skies, and temperature of 39 degrees.
Petty Officer Chris Belisle, a rescue swimmer rescue swimmer aboard the helicopter, said the weather was on their side and made the rescue easy and uneventful.
