Former Sen. Stevens, Former NASA Admin O'Keefe Reported On
Board
ANN RealTime Update, 081010, 1451
EST: Finally... some good news. Credible media reports
suggest that two of the survivors of this crash appear to be former
NASA Admin Sean O'Keefe and his son. Both are reported to be
"pretty banged up" with numerous broken bones but do appear to be
in a position to survive their injuries.
ANN RealTime Update, 081010, 1431 EST:
The Associated Press is now quoting family spokespersons in the
confirmation of the death of former Senator Ted Stevens. No reports
have been confirmed as to the fate of former NASA
Administrator Sean O'Keefe. Former Senate Appropriations Committee
Chief of Staff Jim Morhard and O'Keefe's son have also been
reported to have been on board the flight.
ANN RealTime Update, 081010, 1401 EST: Some
media outlets are now reporting that one of the five known to have
perished in the Monday evening crash of N455A is believed to be
retired Republican Senator Ted Stevens.
Original Report: ANN is monitoring
fast-changing reports of a downed DeHavilland floatplane that went
down late Monday night in IFR conditions. On board were a
reported 9 people including retired Republican Senator Ted Stevens
and former NASA Boss Sean O'Keefe (now CEO of EADS North
America).
Early media reports suggest that there are at least 5 fatalities
but no IDs have been presented. The trip was being made to
transport the party to a fishing lodge. Both the aircraft and the
lodge were reported to be owned/operated by GCI Communications of
Anchorage, AK.
Ted Stevens
The aircraft involved is a heavily modified DeHavilland 'Super
Otter' floatplane, equipped with a turboprop powerplant (reportedly
a Texas Turbine conversion)... a real workhouse that is pretty much
tailor-made for the tough Alaskan conditions that these birds seem
to thrive in. The accident sight is 20 NM North of Dillingham, AK,
and conditions were described as 'IFR' with low visibilities and
ceilings. While Rescue ops have not been able to reach the accident
site today, some rescue personnel are reported to have been on site
since late last night and have remained with the survivors through
the evening.
Sean O'Keefe
An NTSB 'Go' Team has already been dispatched to the scene. An
NTSB statement notes that, "At about 8:00 p.m. Alaska Daylight
Time, a DeHavilland DHC-3T (N455A) crashed 10 miles northwest of
Aleknagik, Alaska. Reports are that 5 of the 9 persons on board
died in the accident. Senior air safety investigator Clint Johnson,
from the NTSB's Anchorage regional office, will serve as
Investigator-in-Charge. He will be assisted by investigators from
the Alaska office and from NTSB headquarters in Washington,
D.C."
ANN will update the story as verifiable information becomes
available...
ANN's Daily Aero-Term (05.01.24): Say Altitude
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