Two planes collide, killing five

WASILLA, Alaska – Two small planes collided in midair Sunday about 20 miles north of Anchorage, killing all five people aboard, officials said.

A man and his three children in a Cessna 170B and the pilot of a Cessna 172 were killed in the accident just after noon, according to National Transportation Safety Board investigator Clint Johnson.

Both were single-engine, fixed-wing aircraft manufactured in 1955, state troopers said.

The planes were flying at altitutes between 500 and 800 feet when they collided above the Palmer Hay Flats in a remote area 10 miles south of Wasilla.

“It appears that the westbound aircraft apparently saw the other aircraft at the last moment and tried to avoid the collision, but unfortunately, that didn’t work,” said Johnson, who did not identify which plane that was.

Don Grant, who lives near the crash site, said he was outside when he heard a thud. He looked up to see the planes plummeting.

“I only recall hearing one sound when they hit the ground, so I’m pretty sure they hit at the same time,” he said.

Killed were David Beauregard, 45, of Wasilla, and his three children, Ryan, 16; Conner, 13; and Remi, 9, state troopers spokesman Greg Wilkinson said. The second pilot was William Smoke, 55, of Chugiak, Alaska, Wilkinson said.