Two Cessnas Collide Mid-Air over Talkeetna Runway

image01-06-2015 07.55.43One man was injured after two aircraft collided in mid-air over the airstrip in Talkeetna on Sunday evening, troopers report.

The two aircraft, a Cessna 185, piloted by 32-year-old Antonio Benavides, with four passengers, and a Cessna 172, piloted by 27-year-old Cole Hagge of Eagle River were both attempting to land at the Talkeetna Airport when they collided about 100 feet above the runway at approximately 5 pm.

The Cessna 185, operated by Talkeetna Air Taxi had been on a flight-seeing trip with four passengers aboard was returning to Talkeetna when the mishap occurred. No one aboard that aircraft was injured. The pilot of the the privately-owned Cessna 172, Cole Hagge did suffer non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to the Mat-Su Regional Medical Center.

The National Transportation Safety Board was notified shortly after the crash.

The Federal Aviation Administration was also informed of the crash and were on their way to the scene on Sunday night to conduct an investigation into the details of the crash.