Plane Crash With Fatality

A DeHavilland Beaver floatplane crashed just after takeoff along the Katmai Coast near Swikshak Lagoon in the northwest part of the park on September 21st, killing one of the passengers and injuring five others. The accident was reported around 2 p.m. that afternoon and a rescue response was coordinated with Kulis Air National Guard. Due to foul weather, high winds and limited fuel, pararescuers had less than five minutes to retrieve the survivors. Four of them were taken to Kodiak by the Air National Guard and the fifth was taken by another airplane to a fishing lodge on Lake Iliamna. Three of the survivors received medical treatment and were later released from the hospital in Kodiak. On September 23rd, a ranger and an Alaska state trooper flew by helicopter from King Salmon to the site of the plane crash. A second helicopter flew from Homer with NTSB, FAA and insurance representatives onboard to investigate the accident.  The airplane was found to have broken into several sections. The body of Donald Bator, a retired 62-year-old Massachusetts computer analyst, was removed from the wreckage.  Earlier attempts to access the crash site were restricted by extreme weather and wind conditions.