KODIAK, ALASKA-This Friday evening, just before 8 pm, a De Havilland Otter, tail number N361TT, operated by Paklook Air and flown by 49-year-old James Andie, crashed on a return trip from Old Harbor, where they had dropped off freight and passengers. The crash occurred approximately five minutes out from the airport in Kodiak near Heitman Lake.

The pilot, James Andie was pronounced dead at the scene. The two passengers on board, Gary Alexanderoff, age 18, and Arthur May, age 24 survived the crash and were transported to Kodiak Island Providence Medical Center. Alexanderoff sustained minor head injuries, while May’s leg injuries were more extensive.

Alexanderoff was able to extricate himself from the wreckage and climb up a nearby hill, where he was able to get a cellphone signal and call 911. A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew responded to the scene and transported the passengers to the Air Station, where they were transferred to emergency vehicles.

The weather was clear and calm at the time of the incident. Troopers spokeswoman Megan Peters stated “They were out looking for wildlife and while they were flying low they were clipped by a tree and upon that happening they crashed,” She added, “The NTSB is going to be looking more thoroughly into it.”

James Andie was an experienced pilot and had worked for Paklook Air for nine months.