TRAPPER CREEK-A mid-air collision above Amber Lake, approximately 12 miles southwest of Trapper Creek, at 2:14pm yesterday claimed the lives of all aboard a Cessna 180 as it crashed and burned according to Meg Peters, Alaska State Troopers spokesperson.

Kevin Earp, the pilot and sole occupant of the second plane, a Cessna 206, was able to maintain flight and landed safely at Stevens International Airport at 3:30pm. His plane had damage to the floats and he had to do a wheels up landing there. The North-South runway remained closed until 4:30pm.

Mat-Su Borough Emergency Services Director, Dennis Brodigan Stated, “When we got to the scene, the plane was fully engulfed in flames.” The responders used four-wheelers and trucks to get to the scene, as the terrain is difficult in that area. They doused the burning plane using fire extinguishers. The scene was located at the end of Oil Well Road, itself off of Petersville Road.

Initially Troopers reported 2 and possibly 3 victims were in the wreckage. The State Medical Examiner also responded to the scene. It was later found that 4 had fell victim in the incident.

The names of the victims were not released, and the cause and circumstances of the crash are under investigation. The NTSB and FAA were notified of the crash.