SOLDOTNA, Alaska (AP) - Police say a small plane has crashed at the Soldotna Airport, killing all aboard.
Meagan Peters of Alaska State Troopers says the fixed-wing aircraft was fully engulfed in flames before firefighters could get to the plane. She was not able to say how many people were on board at the time of the crash and the victims have not been identified.
The accident happened around 11:20 a.m. Peters did not know if the plane was taking off or landing at the airport at the time of the crash.
The National Transportation Safety Board identified the aircraft in a release Sunday as a de Havilland Otter Air Taxi, which the Aviation Safety Foundation says can seat up to 20 passengers. The NTSB is sending a team to investigate the crash. NTSB spokesman Eric Weiss said one local member of the team was at the scene Sunday evening.
For many Alaskans, flying across the state is common, exposing residents to a litany of hazards including treacherous mountain passes and volatile weather.
Alaska has already seen a several plane crashes this year. including a June 28 crash that killed a pilot and two passengers on a commercial tour in the Alaska Range.
The Soldotna crash comes a day after two teenagers were killed when an Asiana flight crashed at San Francisco's airport.