Cessna 207 Suffered Engine Failure Over Cook Inlet

Search crews in Alaska have located the wreckage of a Cessna 207 that went missing Tuesday near Nikiski, but officials say it's unlikely the plane's pilot and sole occupant survived.

Authorities say the Cessna (file photo of type, right) was piloted by the former head of the Alaska State Troopers, retired Colonel Randy Crawford. The plane impacted the waters of Cook Inlet Tuesday morning.

Coast Guard officials told ANN the plane was enroute from Kenai to Kokhimak when Crawford radioed the Kenai air traffic control tower to report engine problems.

An emergency locator signal tipped off the Coast Guard, which then alerted a passing oil tanker. The tanker Seabulk Nevada then steamed to the accident site, and used a crane on its deck to lift the wreckage from the water.

A Coast Guard HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter, two Alaska State Trooper aircraft aand an Air National Guard helicopter from Anchorage were dispatched to assist in the search. The Anchorage Daily News reports crews are now concentrating their efforts along the shoreline.

FMI: www.uscg.mil/d17/, www.dps.state.ak.us/ast/