Midair plane collision kills 4 in Alaska

TRAPPER CREEK, Alaska — Authorities say four people are dead after two small planes collided over Alaska.
Alaska State trooper spokeswoman Megan Peters says four bodies have been recovered from the wreckage of Saturday's crash.
One of the aircraft landed safely after the accident near Trapper Creek, while the other crashed in flames.
Authorities initially said at least two people were killed, but later announced that there were four confirmed deaths.


The two Cessna float planes collided at 2:14 p.m. near Amber Lake in the Trapper Creek area, about 90 miles northeast of Anchorage, the Alaska Department of Public Safety said.
One plane, a Cessna 180, crashed into the ground and became engulfed in flames after impact. Four bodies were recovered from the aircraft, Alaska State Troopers said. The names of the deceased were not immediately released.
The other plane, a Cessna 206, maintained flight and returned to Anchorage where the pilot, Kevin Earp, 56, of Eagle River, made an emergency landing at Ted Stevens International Airport. Earp was alone and not injured, officials said. However, the plane sustained significant damage as it landed on its floats.
The cause and circumstances surrounding the crash are under investigation. Troopers, the State Medical Examiner's Office, the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration were investigating the crash.