Posted on 06/20/2023 8:13:14 AM PDT by devane617
Jim Tweto, 68, died June 16 in a small plane crash near the town of Shatoolik, Alaska.
Entertainment Weekly reports that Jim was seen taking off in his Cessna 180 on Friday morning, and it purportedly crashed soon after. Both he and the other passenger, hunting and fishing guide Shane Reynolds, did not survive. Alaskan state troopers recovered both bodies.
Jim previously appeared on Discovery Channel's Flying Wild Alaska — a documentary series about his family-run airline, Era Alaska, which transported goods to remote areas of the Bering Sea coastline. The family was based in Unalakeet, Alaska, where they worked various roles in the operation. The show aired on Discovery for three seasons between 2011 and 2012.
Ariel, Jim's second daughter, confirmed the news via Instagram.
"I didn't think anything could hurt this bad," she wrote. "And I don't know why I'm writing this but the news is out so I figured you hear it from me."
"I'd take any other type of pain if he could just land today," she continued. "My dad and a wonderful hunting guide and friend of our family passed away this afternoon in his 180. He died doing what he truly loved and is now with Uncle Ron up there soaring."
(Excerpt) Read more at people.com ...
Used to watch it.
The guy could land and takeoff from a muddy river bank. His brother was killed in Arkansas in 2002 flying in the Ozark Mountains.
There is no such thing as an old BUSH pilot, because most of them die in a crash before reaching retirement
Alaska PING
One of my friends was one, George Graber, retired moose and other critters guide and pilot.
Also retired airline pilot.
He died in 2007 at 85.
One morning, as I drove about 5 miles from the Whitefield airport, I encountered a huge bull moose on the dead run towards the airport. He looked really pissed, it was rut season.
I proceeded to the airport to see if George Graber was up to his old tricks again.
George was a retired airline pilot and retired moose hunting guide. He flew a small plane out of the Whitefield airport for fun.
A few minutes before I saw the moose, he had spotted it from the air, landed, and bet some guys around the hangar he could call it in.
A few minutes after I arrived, the big bull came crashing through the woods, heading strait for the hangar, snorting and pawing.
We all ducked inside for safety.
After trapping us in the hangar for a half an hour or so, the moose left.These days, George is in that great hangar in the sky.
Era Alaska operated two Lear 25’s in the early 1980’s that had been specially modified to carry medevac stretchers. I flew on them several times escorting ill and injured from Prudhoe Bay to Anchorage. The Lear 25 is an inherently unstable plane that has the glide slope of a rock. Fortunately for me the worst flight I ever had in one was piloted by an ex F-4 Phantom jock who kept us out of Cook Inlet while approaching Anchorage in 125 knot crosswinds. Within two years both of those Lears cratered with loss of all souls on board. Alaska eats a lot of airplanes. There are old bush pilots and there are bold bush pilots but there are no old bold bush pilots.
Balls
RIP
I had a Texas friend in Palmer
He and his wife both flew bush in I think a Maule and a Helio
She was killed i think piloting a rented 206 in 1990
It’s dangerous but profitable
I just remember he kept a loaded 45-70 in the outhouse
And 44 mag on his hip for late night trips to the bathroom
What a life
Just had a deep thought: It’s probably better dying doing something you hate because then you don’t have to do it anymore.
Reminds me of the old joke: Why do men usually die before their wives do?
Because they want to.
He was awesome. So laid back.
Can’t imagine what he went thought to establish a business like he did, in that place and all it seemed he wanted to do was fly hinters to remote locations in that Cub he had with the fat tires.
“Can’t imagine what he went thought to establish a business like he did...”
He had a successful thriving business but always flew that old bush plane himself. He appeared to love is life, work and family. Appears he did it right.
Used to watch. Remember his daughter learning how to fly. Sad
Suffice to say it is quite different from flying around the islands in Hawaii where I earned my Airman's Certificate. My medical is expired and there is little opportunity; not to mention the risks.
Hereon I'll be getting my adventure fix in my boat I'm thinking.
Wow. I hadn’t heard about this. My niece (you know the one) worked on Flying Wild Alaska and knew the family well.
Bwahahahaha! My wife loved it!
Dang
Small world
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