Pilot, two pastors narrowly avoid fiery deaths

Anchorage Daily News ^ | June 14, 2007 | DAN JOLING

[skeptoid]

The two new pastors of a church in Kake and their pilot escaped injury after a fire broke out in their small commuter airplane as it took off from the Southeast Alaska community. .....SNIP....

So much smoke filled the cabin that he and his wife could not see pilot Rich Anderson seated two feet in front of them in the cabin. But Anderson managed to find the runway, land the aircraft, kick open the co-pilot door and help them out, they said.

[skeptoid]

TERRANCE WATKINS / The Associated Press

A small plane burns after making an emergency landing in Kake June 11, 2007.
Eric Bennett, L.A.B. director of operations, didn't know the fire's cause
but a focus will be on a baggage compartment.

. ...SNIP...."He said, 'Run! Get out of there!' " Nita said.

Terry ran, and shot a photo showing smoke billowing from the plane. He shot another 24 seconds later with the plane engulfed by fire.

[skeptoid]

.

.... Kake emergency responders put the couple on oxygen and rushed them to the community clinic to check their vital signs. They didn't stay long. They still had to get to Tucson. L.A.B. sent over its chief pilot in a twin-engine aircraft and he flew them to Juneau, where they caught their scheduled Alaska Airlines flight to Arizona. ....

[blu]

I”m visiting up in Squarebanks and am surprised at how many air problems I see when I turn on the news...but then remember how much of the travel in this state is done by plane.

Have you guys considered making your state capitol in a city everyone can access, by road? Seems silly to have it only accessible by plane or boat.

Lest you think I’m dissin’ AK, I love it here! The sun never sets, I sleep in 4 hour spurts, your highways are always under construction, just like home, and Walmart has the best prices on souvenirs! (gotta watch that, tho, most are made in China!) Today, however, we’re off to the Alaska Bowl company...other than Murphy Dome, I’m sure it will be the best!

Oh, yeah, and we’re going by car! :)