Anchorage, AK Plane Crashes Minutes After Takeoff, July 1979

NO SURVIVORS OF PLANE CRASH.

Anchorage, Alaska (AP) -- State Troopers said there were no survivors in the crash of a twin engine Cessna 402 which left Anchorage with seven persons aboard.
The plane left Anchorage International Airport at about 9:30 a.m. Thursday on a flight to Kenai and vanished from the radar screen four minutes after takeoff.
Federal Aviation Administration spokesman CLIFFORD CERNICK said weather was poor but "it was typical weather for instrument flight."
The Troy Air Service plane was found about five hours later at the 3,000 foot level of McHugh Peak on the Anchorage side of the Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet. The crash site was 16 miles south of Anchorage.
The six passengers aboard were all Anchorage residents and employees of Parker Drilling Co.
State Troopers identified them as MIKE ANDERSON; LARRY SHARP; JIM WATSON; TOM CHAMBERS; LOU SPURRIER and BILL BIRTSHIEL.
Also dead in the crash was pilot DEAN HODGES, son of TROY HODGES who owns the air service company.
National Transportation Safety Board and FAA teams were investigating the crash.

Daily Sitka Sentinel Alaska 1979-07-13

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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!