Pilot flown to Anchorage after Cessna 185 crashes in Kenai National Wildlife Refuge

A pilot survived a Cessna 185 crash in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge on Sunday, reporting no major injuries after the aircraft came to rest inverted in trees along the shore of Trapper Joe Lake, Alaska State Troopers said.

Troopers received a 911 text message from the vicinity of the lake at 11:40am from an adult male who said he had crashed and had no major injuries.

The Alaska Rescue Coordination Center also picked up an emergency locator transmitter signal from the aircraft and launched a helicopter from Anchorage. The helicopter flew the man to Anchorage, where he was evaluated for minor injuries.

Wildlife troopers reached Trapper Joe Lake by state aircraft and documented the scene. Alaska Wildlife Troopers and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are continuing to investigate and to coordinate removal of the aircraft from refuge land. The National Transportation Safety Board has been notified. Troopers released no cause and did not identify the pilot.