Three bodies, including two adults and one child, were found in the wreckage of a small plane crash that occurred on Monday near the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race route.
According to the Associated Press, Pilot Ted Smith, 59, Carolyn Sorvoja, 48, and Rosemarie Sorvoja, 10, died in the crash, which occurred near Rainy Pass in Alaska. The three deceased were all from Eagle River, which is a community on the north side of Anchorage.
The report says that the three left the city and were headed towards Takotna, which is a village of 53 people located 235 miles northwest of Anchorage. The town is a quarter of the way into the 1,000-mile Iditarod race path. The report says that the plane left Anchorage from Merrill Field in the morning and no flight plan was filed before takeoff.
Alaska State Troopers spokeswoman Megan Peters said by email that the plane was set to return to Anchorage after dropping off the passengers and a search was launched around 6 pm when the plane was overdue at the airport.
The report said that Smith was "an experienced, well equipped pilot", according to Kalei Brooks, spokeswoman for the Alaska National Guard. The pilot had a locator beacon and on Tuesday morning the search continued with private and law enforcement personnel joining in.
The wreckage was found around 10 am near the 4,000-foot level of Rainy Pass, which is part of the Iditarod race. No one survived the crash according to officials.
CLICK here for video information on the race and more about the crash.
