Air Guard rescues pilot with minor injuries after plane crash near Friday Creek

An Alaska Air National Guard crew rescued a pilot after a single-engine plane crashed near Friday Creek, about 50 miles northeast of Anchorage, on Sunday, Oct. 11. The pilot had minor injuries and was flown to Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage, according to a Guard release posted Wednesday.

It was the second such rescue north of Anchorage in 11 days.

The rescue began with the pilot's personal locator beacon, which sent a 406 MHz distress alert to the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center. A 210th Rescue Squadron HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopter flew from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson with 212th Rescue Squadron Guardian Angels aboard. The crew spotted the wreck and landed in a clearing next to it. Guardian Angels found the pilot and gave medical aid.

The release does not name the pilot or give the aircraft type, the time of the crash or a cause.

On the night of Oct. 1, the same units picked up a pilot with minor injuries after a single-engine plane crashed about 35 miles north of the base. Two bystanders were with the pilot when the crew arrived. That pilot was also flown to Providence.

Both releases end with the same appeal from Rescue Coordination Center officials: aircraft owners should fit 406 MHz emergency locator transmitters and keep the registration information current so rescues go faster.